As a proud member of AIMS, the European Go Federation (EGF) continues to promote excellence and inclusivity in the sport of Go. The year 2024 was marked by remarkable tournaments, outstanding performances, and a growing community of players across Europe.
Key Events and Achievements
Hamburg, Germany, set the stage for two major competitions from March 20–23: the European Professional Championship, where Mateusz Surma (3p) claimed victory, and the European Youth Championship, which saw nearly 100 participants competing for top honors. The youth champions were Benoit Robichon (3d, U21), Yuze Xing (5d, U18), and Bartik Dach (2d, U12).
The European Pair Go Championship, held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from April 19–21, witnessed an impressive performance from Milena Bocle (3d) and Florent Labouret (5d) of France, who emerged victorious among 20 competing pairs.
In a significant international appearance, the European Professional Team—comprising Mateusz Surma (3p), Andrii Kravets (1p), Stanislaw Frejlak (1p), and Tanguy Le Calve (1p)—participated in the Chinese C League from May 31 to June 7 after a three-year hiatus. While the team faced challenges, the experience provided valuable exposure to high-level competition.
The 66th European Go Congress (EGC), one of the biggest Go events in Europe, took place in Toulouse, France, from July 26 to August 10. The congress attracted over 1,000 players and hosted some of Europe’s most prestigious competitions, including:
- The European Championship, where Andrii Kravets (2p) defended his title for the second consecutive year.
- The Pandanet European Team Championship Final, which crowned Team France as the winners.
Youth development remained a key focus, with the 39th World Youth Go Championship held in Vatra Dornei, Romania, from August 25–29. The title winners were Kim Tae Heon (6d, U18) from South Korea and Zhang Yimiao (6d, U12) from China.
The European Student Championship, traditionally the smallest European championship, was held on September 7–8 in Novi Sad, Serbia. The event featured ten participants from Serbia, Bulgaria, and Czechia, with Sinan Dzhepov (5d) emerging as the champion.
The European Women’s Championship, hosted in Bratislava, Slovakia, on September 14–15, saw Li Ting (1p) successfully defend her title, securing back-to-back victories in this prestigious event.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With a strong foundation and an ever-growing community, the European Go Federation continues to play a key role in promoting Go across the continent. AIMS congratulates all athletes, organizers, and officials who contributed to a successful year and looks forward to another exciting season of events in 2025.
Stay tuned for more updates as we celebrate the continued development of Go and its contribution to the global sporting landscape.
