The Evanston Go Club’s 2025 Chicago Rapid, held November 1 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Evanston, Illinois, brought together 78 players from across the Midwest for a day of fierce but friendly competition. The lightning-fast, five-round format produced hundreds of games—and one flawless record.
Jeremy Chiu 7D claimed the top title with a perfect 5–0 finish, capping a day of high-pressure play where each move was made on the clock. His most memorable game came in Round 4 against Dohyup Kim 7D, the 2025 Chicago Open champion. “I was honestly pretty nervous at the start,” said Chiu. “I just tried to play my game and keep things simple.” The approach worked: Chiu captured a critical group in the midgame to secure victory and the tournament crown.
Kim, who traveled from Incheon, South Korea, took second place. “Now I play for fun,” he said with a smile. “Winning is fun too—but unfortunately, this time I couldn’t.” Third place went to Kenny Jin 6D, who credited careful joseki study, including the big avalanche, for his success.
Alongside the Open Division, the club ran a free youth tournament directed by Xinming “Simon” Guo. Using his “population score” system—counting stones instead of territory—Guo emphasized learning over competition. “We want kids to be curious and enjoy the game,” he said.
Between rounds, Peter Leung’s creative “Guess the Rank” and “Group Mentality” activities offered players a relaxed way to unwind. “They’re a chance to talk and collaborate instead of compete,” said Leung.
The Rapid also drew new faces from near and far, including Japanese student Shimmaru Kosumi 3K, who played his first U.S. tournament. “In Japan, people are very defensive,” he said. “Here, players fight back right away—it’s exciting!”
As stones clicked through the final round, the event celebrated both skill and connection. “You don’t have to speak the same language,” said first-time player Ryan Simeone 10K. “Go is the language.”
Top Division Results
1.
Jeremy Chiu 7D; 2.
Dohyup Kim 7D; 3.
Kenny Jin 6D; 4.
Na Pan; 5.
Paige Lemaster
Youth Tournament Winners: Gold: Vincent Yang; Silver: Forrest Zhu, Jack Gillespie, Connor Qin; Bronze: Isaac Prime, Konrad Otsuka
The Evanston Go Club thanked its sponsors and partners, including American Yunguseng Dojang, Baduk Club, Downtown Evanston, Hello Jasmine, OGS, Pita Inn, and Yellow Mountain Imports.
View the full standings here and photo album here.
Report by Jason Cheng; Photos by David Schiller, Tomoni Amazon, and Jason Cheng.