China’s Fu Yu 8d swept the field with a perfect 8–0 record to win the 46th World Amateur Go
Championship, held September 6–13 in Mungyeong, Korea. Japan’s Hyo Ka finished second and Czechia’s Lukas Podpera took third.
U.S. representative Justin Teng 6D (bottom right photo) finished with a 4–4 record in the field of players from 53 countries.
The decisive Round 8 match between Fu and the Republic of Korea’s Kim Hyeonsuk drew intense attention. After a long battle, Fu pulled ahead to secure the victory and complete his undefeated run. Fu, who was heavily favored to win, is widely regarded as playing at professional strength; he has previously defeated top professionals at the Chinese National Games, including Wang Xinghao 9p.
“Attending the WAGC for the first time has been an eye-opening experience,” said AGA President Jonas Acres. “I can see why this is called the Olympics of Go. Seeing amateurs from all over the world, representing such a wide range of skill levels, gather to share in competition and friendship shows that Go is truly a game for everyone.”
Organizers also presented special awards to Portugal’s Fernando João Ferreira Gonçalves (top right) and Ireland’s Byoung Ju Lee in recognition of their sportsmanship and the generous spirit they brought to the tournament.
“It’s great to see the players,” Gonçalves told the E-Journal. “At first they don’t know each other, and then, as the event continues, groups start forming and people become friends.”
Gonçalves, a European 4k who finished 50th with a 2–6 record, also reflected on the value of competing against stronger players. “Sometimes you play your best games, but you need to be aware of your limitations,” he said. “You take a loss, but you feel satisfied that you’ve grown as a player.”
Staff from the Korean Baduk Association and Korean Baduk Federation took particular care in welcoming the international field, including accommodating participants’ dietary and religious needs.
“We hope all the participants are satisfied with what we did,” said KBA professional organizer Eric Kang (photo at left). “We hope everyone has good memories of this tournament.”
The International Go Federation also held its annual meeting during the championship. Delegates approved the Southeast Asian Go Federation—whose members include Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia—as a new IGF member and officially sanctioned the Korean Prime Minister’s Cup as a world championship.
photos by Jonas Acres