European Go players
Encyclopedia
The tactical board game of Go was created in East Asia, and is still dominated by Japan, Korea and China. However, since the late 1900s several high-level players have grown and become active in Europe.
Some of them are players from Asia who came to promote the game of go in Europe.
Mainly, though, the players were born in Europe, sometimes with strong support from Asian Go professional
s, and a few of the Europeans have themselves become professional players.
In general, every country in Europe has its own national federation or association, which is affiliated to the European Go Federation
(EGF), and each national body manages the activities linked to the game of go in their own country.
The activities are almost exclusively undertaken by volunteers.
).
The FFG is divided into regional leagues, to promote of the game of go and to help the local clubs.
The main responsibilities of the FFG are:
Some of them are players from Asia who came to promote the game of go in Europe.
Mainly, though, the players were born in Europe, sometimes with strong support from Asian Go professional
Go professional
A Go professional is a professional player of the game of Go. The minimum standard to acquire a professional diploma through one of the major go organisations is very high. The competition is tremendous, and prize incentives for champion players are very large...
s, and a few of the Europeans have themselves become professional players.
In general, every country in Europe has its own national federation or association, which is affiliated to the European Go Federation
European Go Federation
The European Go Federation is a non-profit organization with the purpose of encouraging, regulating, co-ordinating, and disseminating the playing of the board game Go in Europe. The EGF was founded in 1957, the same year that the inaugural European Go Congress took place - in Cuxhaven, Germany...
(EGF), and each national body manages the activities linked to the game of go in their own country.
The activities are almost exclusively undertaken by volunteers.
Best players
- Manfred WimmerManfred WimmerManfred Wimmer was the first Western professional go player. As of 2007, there have been fewer than a dozen professional go players born outside of Asia.Manfred Wimmer was born in Austria in 1944...
- 1 DanDan (rank)The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
professional player - European Go ChampionshipEuropean Go ChampionshipThe European Go Championship or Congress is the annual and main event of many organised by the European Go Federation for players of the board game Go. It consists of a 2-week open competition, one round per day, making a total of 10 rounds with a champion ultimately emerging - the player with the...
-winner (2 titles). - Helmut Hasibeder - European Champion (1 title).
Structure
The French Go Federation (Fédération Française de Go - FFG) manages all activities in France. It is organized as a federation of clubs (such that representatives of clubs have a vote at the general assemblyGeneral assembly
General assembly may refer to an official meeting of the members of a trade union, church, association, or similar organization, or of their representatives, in particular:-Governing bodies of international organizations:*The United Nations General Assembly...
).
The FFG is divided into regional leagues, to promote of the game of go and to help the local clubs.
The main responsibilities of the FFG are:
- the French Championship
- the French Youth Championship
- the French Team Championship (usually called "Coupe Maître Lim")
- the organisation of the Paris Go TournamentParis Go TournamentThe Paris Go Tournament is a tournament organized by the French Go Federation.The Pandanet Go European Finals takes place during this tournament.- Awards :...
- the French go summer camp (several activities e.g. lessons and competitions, spread over 2 weeks)
Best players
- Eugène Lim - player from Korea. He was the teacher of the first wave of go players in France.
- Fan Hui - Chinese professional player 2 Dan - Official teacher of the FFG - 6-times Paris Go Tournament winner, and 2006 French Open Champion.
- Motoki Noguchi - Japanese player 6 Dan - 2008 French Open Champion, and 2010 Open Champion.
- Dai Junfu - Chinese player 7 Dan - 2010 Paris Go Tournament winner.
- Patrick Merissert - 1976 European Champion and French Champion from 1971 to 1975.
- André Moussa - 13-times French Champion
- Pierre Colmez - 4-times French Champion and 2nd European at the 1984 European Go Championship.
- Jean-François Séailles - 4-times French Champion.
- Farid Ben Malek - 3-times French Champion.
- Jean Michel - twice French Champion.
- Antoine Fenech - 2 titles at "under 12" European Youth Go ChampionshipEuropean Youth Go ChampionshipThe European Youth Go Championship is a championship for young players of the board game of Go. It is held annually, and first started in Băile Felix, Romania in 1996...
(EYGC). - Thomas Debarre - 2010 Champion, 2nd "under 12" at the 2004 EYGC and 2nd "under 18" at the 2008 EYGC.
Best players
- Hans PietschHans PietschHans Reinhard Pietsch was a German Go player, one of the few European-born to have been promoted to the professional levels....
- 6 Dan professional player. - Fritz Dueball - First European Champion (3 titles).
- Wichard von Alvensleben - European Champion (4 titles).
- Jurgen Mattern - European Champion (8 titles).
- Wolfgang Isele - European Champion (1 title).
Best players
- Diana KoszegiDiana KoszegiDiána Kőszegi is the first Hungarian professional Go player.She became only the fourth European professional, when she was promoted to professional by the Korean Go Association on January 4, 2008.-Biography:...
- 1 Dan Professional player - 2000 European U18 Champion. - Csaba MérőCsaba MérõCsaba Mérő is an amateur Go player.- Biography :Mérő began playing Go when he was 14. He is the son of Hungarian mathematician László Mérő. By 1996 he had already won the European Youth Go Championship and Hungarian Championship. After he finished secondary school he moved to Japan in 1999. He was...
- 6 Dan. Was 1996 European U18 Champion, 2003 ING Cup winner and 2003 Paris Go Tournament winner. - Pal Balogh - 2001-2002 European U18 Champion.
- Tibor Pocsai - European Champion (1 title).
Best players
- Guo Juan - European Champion (4 times).
- Rob Van Zeijst - European Champion (2 times).
- Ronald Schlemper - European Champion (2 times).
Best players
- Catalin TaranuCatalin TaranuCătălin Țăranu , born March 31, 1973 in Romania, is one of the very few professional players of the board game of Go from outside Asia.- Biography :...
- 5 Dan professional player - 2009 European Champion. - Robert Mateescu - 1998 European Champion.
- Mihai Serban - 2005 U12 European Champion, 2010 U18 European Champion.