The U.S. Youth Team placed 10th at the 2025 Quzhou Lanke Cup International Child-Friendly
Weiqi Championship, held in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province October 22-26. The prestigious international youth event, jointly organized by the Chinese Weiqi Association and the Quzhou Municipal People’s Government, brought together twenty U18 teams from around the world for seven rounds of team play and cultural exchange.
The U.S. team—coached by Li Hai 5P and featuring Liam Liu 5D, Dash Zhang 4D, and Riannie Duan 3D—performed admirably against a strong international field, finishing in the top half of the standings. At an average age of just 11, the young American players were among the youngest teams in attendance.
Now in its third year, the 2025 tournament marked the first time the Quzhou Lanke Cup expanded from an invitational to a full international championship, increasing participation to twenty teams. Between rounds, players took part in post-game reviews and cultural activities, including visits to the Confucius Ancestral Temple and local museums, as well as traditional Chinese calligraphy workshops.
During the event’s sharing session, U.S. team member Dash Zhang delivered a talk titled “Go as a Bridge for Cross-Cultural Exchange,” introducing the U.S. Go Congress and highlighting Go’s growing global community.
-report/photos courtesy Li Hai & Dash Zhang