A record field of 60-plus players turned out for the Austin Go Club’s annual tournament, but in the end, the headline was clear: Siyuan Fang (8D)
dominated.
Fang went a perfect 6–0 in a stacked Open Division to take the title and $200 top prize, separating himself early and never giving the field an opening. Josh Lan (6D) held steady for second place, while Peter Lee (6D) secured third.
Deep Field, No Easy Wins
This year’s Open Division was one of the strongest in recent memory, with most players ranked 5-dan and above. The lineup featured Yihan Guo (7D), Zelong Dong (5D), and a deep Austin contingent including Ethan Whitman (5D), Xukun Jiang (5D), and Ruichen Jiang (6D).
A strong mid-dan group added further depth, including AGA co-founder Peilung Peng (3D), ensuring that even early-round matchups carried real weight. Across six rounds, there were no soft pairings—every win had to be earned.
Handicap Divisions Deliver Tight Races
The Handicap sections produced competitive finishes across the board:
- Division A: Zixuan Liang (1k) edged the field at 5–1, holding off Ken Blake (1k) and Bart Jacob (4k).
- Division B: Chirag Dasannacharya (10k) took first at 5–1, with Paris Uch (7k) and Junghwa Park (6k) close behind.
- Division C: Jeffery Xu (10k) led the standings, while Luna Sanchez (19k) finished second and William Chen (17k) claimed third.
New Players, Same Pressure
In the Beginner Division, Noah Kim (30k) posted a 5–1 record to take first, with Michael Ramos (30k) and Austin Zhong (30k) rounding out the podium—proof that even first-time competitors felt the intensity of tournament play.
Beyond the Board
Off the board, the event kept players engaged between rounds. A Go-themed raffle—stocked with prizes imported from Japan—helped fund future tournaments, while a new puzzle contest drew strong participation across all levels, from 20k to 7d.
Top solvers included Fang and Juanshu Lan at the dan level, along with standouts Ken Blake, Nate Choe, and Chenchen Xiong in the kyu ranks.
Pipeline Strength on Display
The Austin Great Wall Chinese School Go program once again showed its depth, bringing 19 players—most of them youth—and notching multiple top finishes. The program continues to be a major driver of growth in the region.
Texas Circuit Expanding
Austin remains a key stop on a growing Texas tournament circuit, alongside Dallas (February) and Houston (November). Organizers are targeting 2027 for the return of a standalone Texas Championship, with additional events in Fort Worth and San Antonio under consideration.
With a record turnout, a deep Open field, and strong performances across divisions, this year’s Austin tournament underscored a simple point: competitive Go in Texas is getting stronger—and deeper—every year.