Report by Chris Garlock, American Go E-Journal (Quito, Ecuador)
The streets of Quito were calm Sunday morning, but inside the Latin American Go Congress, intensity ruled as 54 players from 10 countries* took their seats for Rounds 3 and 4 of the main tournament.
Between rounds, competitors refueled with mozzarella sticks and a distinctive Ecuadorian dipping sauce—plus the customary sweet dessert shot—while reviewing their games with Cho Hye-Yeon 9P, Ryan Li 4P, and Guanyu Song 1P.
The afternoon featured Rengo pairings that brought together young and adult players, fostering a lively mix of styles and laughter across the boards. Downstairs, Guanyu Song 1P’s lecture delved into creative and surprising tesuji from professional play, captivating a packed room.
The day concluded with the first round of the Pair Go tournament, setting the stage for Monday’s final day of competition, which will include Rounds 5 and 6 of the Congress tournament, another Rengo session, and the concluding Pair Go rounds.
On the top board, Fernando Aguilar 7D continued to dominate. In Round 3, facing Yuichiro Shimawaki 6D, Aguilar’s sharp reading overcame a risky middle-game overplay to secure the win. In Round 4, he took white against Colombia’s Sebastian Rios 4D in another exciting matchup streamed live on OGS by the E-Journal. CLICK HERE for standings after Round 4.
Featured Games
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* Argentina (5), Brazil (2), Chile (1), El Salvador (4), Colombia (9), Japan (4), Mexico (8), US (2), Denmark (1), Ecuador (16)
photos: (l-r starting in the upper left) Youth-Adult Rengo; Aguilar-Rios in Round 3; game review with Ryan Li 4P; Pair Go (Rios/Garcia vs Kezuka/Gomes); Guanyu Song 1P lectures; game review with Cho Hye-Yeon 9P. photos by Chris Garlock.