The 2025 World Pair Go Festival lit up Osaka from August 8–10, coinciding with the Director’s
meetings of the World Pair Go Association (WPGA). Hosted at the Osaka-Kansai Expo Messe “Wasse,” the Festival was chaired by WPGA President Matsuura and Vice President Hiroko Taki, and brought together players, professionals, and officials from across the globe for a celebration of Pair Go’s unique blend of competition and camaraderie.
Tournament Highlights
The Festival featured four major international events, drawing competitors from more than 30 countries.
- 34th International Amateur Pair Go Championship: China’s Chen Si (7d) and Hu Yuqing (8d) captured the title, with Korea’s Seo Sukyeong (6d) and Kim Jung Seon (7d) finishing second. Japan’s Kaneko Motoko (6d) and Sato Koya (6d) placed third. North America was represented by Tina Li and Tianyuan Zhang from the US.
- Matsuda Cup – 9th World Students Pair Go Championship: China again took top honors, with Li Qingyang (5d) and Li Jinpeng (6d) edging out Japan’s Nishio Yuina (6d) and Fukazawa Sachito (6d). North America was represented by Julia Zhang and Kevin Wang from Canada.
- World Junior Pair Go Championship (U-15): Youth pairs from Asia, Europe, and North America competed, representing the game’s next generation. North American was represented by Riannie Duan and Al Tang from the US.
- 2nd World Pair Go Official Handicap Tournament: Designed to emphasize accessibility, this event highlighted Pair Go’s inclusive spirit.
Professional Pair Go was also in the spotlight, with 19-year-old rising star Ueno Risa teaming with Sada Atsushi to win the Professional Pair Go Championship—a triumph that underscored the Festival’s mix of tradition and fresh talent.
Friendship and Laughter
In addition to the formal competitions, WPGA Directors enjoyed a lighter side of the game. In a special Friendship Pair Go Match, overseas Directors—including Martin Stiasny (EGF President), Emil Garcia (Federación Iberoamericana de Go), and myself—were paired with top Japanese professionals. I had the honor of playing alongside Suzuki Ayumi against Ueno Risa, who, just days later, went on to capture the Professional title. The match was filled with smiles, laughter, and a palpable sense of cross-cultural solidarity.
Beyond the Board
The Festival coincided with guided visits to Expo pavilions, where we glimpsed Japan’s forward-looking optimism. My personal highlight was the Pasona Natureverse Pavilion, which showcased cutting-edge iPSC biotechnology that can create stem cells from skin cells. We even saw a tiny, beating heart made using this technology. Presentations on the promise of iPSC and mRNA innovations highlighted Japan’s vision of solving global challenges in harmony with nature.
Another memorable stop was sponsored by Ito En, makers of the beloved Oi Ocha green tea. There, participants were treated to a history of the Japanese tea ceremony, followed by freshly whisked matcha—a perfect pairing of cultural tradition and hospitality.
A Spirit of Optimism
What stood out most in Osaka was not only the strength of Pair Go as a global competition, but also the spirit of connection, innovation, and optimism that surrounded the Festival. From the laughter of the friendship matches to the futuristic promise of Expo pavilions, the World Pair Go Festival 2025 reminded all who attended that Go is not just a game of the past, but also a living, evolving part of humanity’s shared future.
—Report by Gurujeet Khalsa
photos: (left) Martin Stiasny in a teaching game with Sakakibara Fumiko; (top right) Friendship match; (bottom right) Tina Li (4D) and Tianyuan Zhang (6D) compete in 34th IAPGC.