AlphaGo to Zero series concludes with release of Volume 4

7/9/2026Chris GarlockNews

Michael Redmond 9P and Chris Garlock have released the fourth and final volume in their AlphaGo to Zero series, bringing to a close a decade-long effort to document one of the most transformative periods in Go history. From the historic AlphaGo–Lee Sedol match in 2016 through the emergence of AlphaGo Zero in 2017, Michael Redmond 9P and Chris Garlock documented one of the most consequential periods in the history of Go. Through commentaries, conversations, videos, photographs, and years of retrospective analysis, they have created a comprehensive four-volume chronicle of the AlphaGo...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 8, 2026

7/8/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 1 item from Hanguk Kiwon.

Read More

IGF Revokes WAGC Finish Following Anti-Doping Violation

7/8/2026Chris GarlockNews

The International Go Federation (IGF) has announced that Korean player Sa Woo Kim has received a two-month period of ineligibility following an anti-doping rule violation involving the prohibited substance Tramadol. According to the IGF, Kim tested positive for the narcotic after undergoing doping control on May 21, 2025. The violation falls under Article 2.1 of the IGF Anti-Doping Rules, which covers the presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete's sample. Kim's period of ineligibility runs through July 15, 2026. During that time, he is prohibited from participating in competition...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 7, 2026

7/7/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 9 items from Nihon Ki-in, Hanguk Kiwon, Chinese Weiqi Association, and Kansai Ki-in.

Read More

U.S. Go Congress Prize Pool Tops $46,000

7/7/2026Chris GarlockNews

Players at this year's U.S. Go Congress in Boston will be competing for more than $46,000 in cash and prizes, one of the largest prize pools ever offered at the event. Thanks to generous support from sponsors and donors, competitors at every level will have a chance to take home awards. The expanded prize fund reflects this year's new tournament structure, which combines the traditional Masters tournament with the top division of the U.S. Open. The unified championship bracket is expected to feature one of the strongest fields ever assembled at a U.S. Go Congress. Prizes won't be limited to...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 6, 2026

7/6/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 4 items from European Go Federation, Nihon Ki-in, Association of Indian Go Players, and Kansai Ki-in.

Read More

AGHS Senior Highlight

7/6/2026Andrew ZhangNews

As the 2025-2026 season draws to a close, seven seniors will be parting with the AGHS for new chapters in their lives. Read on as co-presidents Tony Yang and Grace Chen and vice president Regina Kim share their experiences with the AGHS. Thank you for another great year!

Read More

Cleared for Landing: Wu Wins 2026 ProQual

7/6/2026Chris GarlockNews

After watching the championship slip away in Sunday's second game, air traffic control specialist Qiyou Wu 7d finally cleared the final approach on Monday, defeating Michael Xu 5d by 5.5 points to become the North American Go Federation's 11th professional player. “Go has taught me that improvement comes from patience and perseverance," Wu told the EJ. "I’m just happy that all those years of enjoying the game led to this moment. Becoming a professional is something I’ve worked toward for many years, so it’s a very meaningful accomplishment. At the same time, I see it as the start of a new...

Read More

Didn't Get Your AGA Election Ballot? Let Us Know

7/6/2026Chris GarlockNews

Ballots for the 2026 American Go Association Board of Directors election have been emailed to both individual members and chapter representatives. The Elections Committee is asking all eligible voters to confirm they've received their ballot so it can verify that the election process is reaching everyone. If you believe you should have received a ballot but have not, first check your AGA membership expiration date and your spam or junk mail folder. Families with multiple members—especially youth members—should also note that some accounts may share an email address. If you still cannot locate...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 5, 2026

7/5/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 9 items from European Go Federation, Nihon Ki-in, Korea Baduk Federation, and Chinese Weiqi Association.

Read More

ProQual Thriller: Xu's Half-Point Miracle Forces Winner-Take-All Final

7/5/2026Chris GarlockNews

For the second time in the 2026 NAGF ProQual, Michael Xu 5d survived by the slimmest margin possible. Needing a win after dropping Sunday's opening championship game to the undefeated Qiyou Wu 7d , the 13-year-old Canadian edged Wu by just a half point after a grueling 352-move battle that lasted nearly four hours. In the end, everything hinged on the handling of a ko fight and the final dame. When the count was confirmed, Xu literally leaped for joy, throwing his arms around his proud father as a smiling Wu looked on. Xu's remarkable run has now been decided by a combined margin of just...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 4, 2026

7/4/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 2 items from Hanguk Kiwon and Chinese Weiqi Association.

Read More

Wu Cruises, Xu Edges into ProQual Final

7/4/2026Chris GarlockNews

It's Qiyou Wu 7d versus Michael Xu 5d for the 2026 NAGF ProQual championship. Wu advanced to Sunday's best-of-three final with two convincing semifinal victories over Alan Huang 7d , winning both games by resignation. Xu's path was far more dramatic. Facing Jasper Liu 6d , he staged a come-from-behind, half-point victory in the opening game, then clinched the match with a 1.5-point win in Game 2—a combined margin of just two points. Click here for complete results and game records. The championship match begins Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PDT (1:00 p.m. EDT) . Miss Saturday's action? Click here for...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 3, 2026

7/3/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 4 items from European Go Federation, Hanguk Kiwon, and Chinese Weiqi Association.

Read More

Huang, Xu, Wu and Liu Advance to NAGF ProQual Semifinals

7/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

Division 1 winners Alan Huang 7d and Michael Xu 5d will face Division 2 winners Qiyou Wu 7d and Jasper Liu 6d in Saturday's semifinals at the 2026 NAGF Pro Qualifier . Because of a shortage of game recorders, only the fifth-round matchup between Alan Huang and Eric Yoder was livestreamed. The game was recorded by bye player Jeremiah ("Jae") Donley, with commentary by Nate Morse 6d (TelegraphGo) and Daniel Lambert serving as host. Click here for complete results and game records. The American Go E-Journal’s livestreaming games coverage of the semi-finals on the AGA's YouTube and Twitch...

Read More

Go News Digest: July 2, 2026

7/2/2026AGA external news monitorExternal Digest

Daily external-source digest with 1 item from Kansai Ki-in.

Read More

Four Semifinal Berths, One Round to Go at ’26 ProQual

7/2/2026Chris GarlockNews

The longest game of the tournament so far may also prove to be one of its most consequential. Michael Xu 6d edged Alan Huang 7d by just a half point after 4 hours and 5 minutes of play, a marathon result that left four players tied atop Division 1 heading into Friday's final round of round-robin play. Huang, Xu, Evan Tan 6d , and Eric Yoder 6d are all 2-1 in Division 1, with two semifinal berths still to be decided while Jeremiah Donley 5d is 0-4. In Division 2, Qiyou Wu 7d has seized the inside track with a perfect 3-0 record. Eric Lee 6d is one game back at 2-2; Jasper Liu 7d (2-1) and...

Read More

Huang, Lee Lead 2026 NAGF ProQual After Initial Rounds

7/1/2026Chris GarlockNews

Two players remain unbeaten after the opening day of the 2026 North American Go Federation Pro Qualification Tournament, with Alan Huang 7D and Eric Lee 6D each posting 2-0 records to take the early lead in the race to become North America's next professional Go player. Huang opened with a win over 13-year-old Evan Tan 6D before defeating Jeremiah Donley 5D in the second round to emerge as the lone undefeated player in Division A. In Division B, Lee defeated Ethan Whitman 5D in a marathon first-round game that stretched nearly four hours before returning from a brief break—fortified by...

Read More

Meet the 2026 ProQual Competitors: The Next Wave

6/30/2026Chris GarlockNews

Today's installment features a younger generation of contenders—including two teenagers, a software engineer with an obsession for tsumego, and a New York developer who believes Go only becomes more fascinating the deeper you explore it.

Read More

New Platform Aims to Turn Tsumego into an RPG Adventure

6/30/2026Chris GarlockNews

For many kyu players, solving tsumego (life and death problems) starts with enthusiasm but often fades as practice becomes repetitive or unfocused. A new web-based training platform, Go Odyssey , hopes to change that by combining personalized study plans with role-playing game mechanics designed to keep players engaged. Created by Taiwanese Go teacher Jason Wu , a 6-dan amateur and founder of the Colorful Children's Go Academy, Go Odyssey is aimed primarily at players from about 10 kyu to 1 kyu. Instead of presenting random puzzles, the platform analyzes each player's performance to identify...

Read More

Meet the 2026 ProQual Competitors: Chasing the Professional Dream

6/29/2026Chris GarlockNews

Ten of North America's strongest amateur players will gather at the Seattle Go Center in Seattle, Washington, July 1–6 to compete in the 2026 North American Go Federation (NAGF) Pro Qualification Tournament. Our first installment introduces five experienced competitors, each pursuing the same dream by very different paths.

Read More

Kansai Ki-in Launches International Dan/Kyu Certification Program

6/29/2026Chris GarlockNews

The Kansai Ki-in has officially launched a new international Dan/Kyu certification program, creating a pathway for overseas players to earn official Japanese rank certification through a comprehensive evaluation process.

Read More

The Power Report: Young Star Sets Record as Japanese Go Honors Its Veterans

6/29/2026Chris GarlockNews

Last in a series of reports covers the second half of 2025.

Read More

Lin, Zhang Lead Canadian Open into Final Day

6/28/2026Chris GarlockNews

Bill Lin 1p and Brady Zhang 7d have emerged as the players to beat at the 2026 Canadian Open, each posting perfect 4-0 records through four rounds. Lin holds a slim edge on tiebreaks heading into Monday's decisive final day.

Read More

The Power Report: Liao, Kim and Wang Closed Out a Busy 2025

6/28/2026Chris GarlockNews

Latest in series of reports covering the second half of 2025.

Read More

Crowded Leaderboard Highlights Strength of Canadian Open Field

6/27/2026Chris GarlockNews

The race for the 2026 Canadian Open title is already beginning to take shape after two rounds, with eight players remaining undefeated in the top division.

Read More

The Power Report: Ichiriki Defends Tengen, Captures Oza and Holds Five Major Titles

6/27/2026Chris GarlockNews

(Latest in a series of 2025 reports) Japan's top player, Ichiriki Ryo, continued his remarkable run by successfully defending the 51st Tengen title and adding the 73rd Oza title to his collection, giving him five of Japan's seven major titles simultaneously.

Read More

Watch the 49th Canadian Go Open Live This Weekend on usgoweb

6/25/2026Chris GarlockNews

The American Go Association's livestreaming team will provide live coverage of the 49th Canadian Go Open, taking place June 27–30 at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in Toronto, Ontario.

Read More

500+ Registered as US Go Congress Hits One-Month Countdown

6/24/2026Chris GarlockNews

With just one month to go before the 2026 US Go Congress, registration continues to climb. Organizers report that 519 attendees have already registered, including the first evening-pass registration.

Read More

Fireflies, Friendship and Go at the 2026 Burning Board Festival

6/24/2026Chris GarlockNews

A warm and welcoming community of 61 Go players and supporters gathered in the woods near Raleigh, North Carolina, June 15–21 for the fifth annual Burning Board Festival.

Read More

AGHS 2026-2027 Officer Applications Now Open

6/21/2026Andrew ZhangNews

The American Go Honor Society (AGHS) is excited to announce officer applications for the 2026-2027 school year. The AGHS is a student-led organization dedicated to spreading Go to youth across North America.

Read More

PlayGo's "Battle of the Sexes" Draws Large Online Audience

6/20/2026Chris GarlockNews

The PlayGo "Battle of the Sexes" tournament on May 31 featured four of Korea's top professionals competing in a fast-paced double-elimination event streamed on the western-built Go platform PlayGo.gg.

Read More

Greater Boston Youth Go Tournament Draws Young Players from Across Region

6/20/2026Chris GarlockNews

The 7th Greater Boston Youth Go Tournament was held May 25 in Lexington, Massachusetts, bringing together young players from across the region for a day of competition, learning, and community.

Read More

South Carolina Holds First Official State Championship

6/20/2026Chris GarlockNews

The Upstate South Carolina Go Club hosted the first official South Carolina Go Championship on June 13 in Anderson, South Carolina, drawing 22 players from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Read More

North Americans Go 3–1 as Chen Upsets Fujii in INAF Cup Opener

6/19/2026Chris GarlockNews

North American professionals scored an impressive 3–1 record in the opening round of the 2026 INAF Cup on June 15, with Michael Chen 2P delivering the biggest surprise of the day by defeating Japan's Koki Fujii 3P in a dramatic comeback victory.

Read More

Candidates for 2026 AGA board seats set

6/17/2026Chris GarlockNews

Incumbents Daniel Lambert, Ted Terpstra, AND Yixian (Michael) Zhou are running to retain their AGA Board seats in the Central, Western and At-Large respectively while newcomers Juelz Kwan and Audrey Wang will be competing in the Eastern region.

Read More

New Season of NAOL is still open for sign up

6/16/2026Milan MladenovicNews

Only 24h left to sign up for season 22 of NAOL

Read More

Jonas Acres Selected as Next AGA President

6/15/2026Chris GarlockNews

The American Go Association Board of Directors has selected Jonas Acres as the organization's next President. His term will begin on September 14, 2026.

Read More

2026 INAF Cup Opens with U.S.-Japan Professional Showdown

6/14/2026Chris GarlockNews

The 2026 INAF Cup gets underway this weekend, featuring four North American professionals facing off against four young professionals from Japan in a single-elimination tournament sponsored by the Iwamoto North American Foundation (INAF).

Read More

Video: Celebrating Haskell Small's A Game of Go

6/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

The National Go Center has posted video from its June 3 celebration of the life and work of Haskell "Hal" Small, the renowned pianist, composer, educator, and longtime American Go leader who passed away in 2024.

Read More

Redmond Workshop Draws Strong Turnout in Seattle

6/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

The Seattle Go Center welcomed Michael Redmond 9P for a two-day workshop on May 23–24, drawing more than 40 attendees over the course of the weekend.

Read More

Chicago Elementary School Expands Go Program

6/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

Go has become a regular part of the curriculum at Bell Elementary School in Chicago, where 138 seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in a new enrichment class during the 2025–26 school year.

Read More

One of Kelowna's Largest Go Tournaments in Years Draws 23 Players

6/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

One of the largest Go tournaments held in Kelowna in recent years took place on May 30, as 23 players gathered for the 2026 Kelowna Spring Go Rating Tournament.

Read More

Three Candidates Vie for AGA Presidency for 2026-2028 Term

6/1/2026Chris GarlockNews

Three candidates — Gurujeet Khalsa, Jonas Acres and Devin Fraze — are under consideration for president of the American Go Association for the 2026-2028 term, with the AGA Board expected to vote during its June 14 meeting.

Read More

Top Korean Pros to Face Off in PlayGo.gg “Battle of the Sexes”

5/27/2026Chris GarlockNews

Four of the world’s top Go professionals — including world #1 Shin Jinseo and women’s stars Choi Jeong and Kim Eunji — will compete next Sunday in PlayGo.gg’s online “Battle of the Sexes” event.

Read More

More Results from Memorial Day Weekend Go Tournaments

5/26/2026Chris GarlockNews

Reports on the prize winners and section champions from the three Memorial Day weekend events.

Read More

SmartGo One 3.0 Gets Major Liquid Glass Redesign

5/25/2026Chris GarlockNews

SmartGo One, Anders Kierulf’s long-running go app for Apple devices, is getting a major visual overhaul in version 3.0, with a redesign built around Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” interface language.

Read More

Top Players Shine in Memorial Day Tri-City Go Events

5/24/2026Chris GarlockNews

More than 190 players competed across the Memorial Day Tri-City tournament series in Maryland, Chicago, and San Diego, with undefeated runs by Zhaonian Chen 2P at the 50th Maryland Open and DoHyup Kim 8d at the Chicago Open, while Evan Tan 6D captured the San Diego title in a rematch with Yiyao Hu 7D. The nationwide series also featured live top-board coverage and nearly ten hours of final-day streaming by the American Go E-Journal.

Read More

Tri-City Leaders Set for Sunday Showdowns

5/23/2026Chris GarlockNews

Day One of the 2026 Memorial Day Tri-City tournaments is in the books, and the leaders have emerged in all three cities.

Read More

Watch Live Top-Board Games from Maryland, Chicago and San Diego

5/22/2026Chris GarlockNews

Memorial Day weekend tournament action will get underway around 11a Saturday, with live coverage from the 50th Maryland Open, the fourth annual Chicago Open, and the 15th Annual San Diego Go Championship streaming throughout the day on Twitch and YouTube.

Read More

Official US Go Congress App Now Live

5/22/2026Chris GarlockNews

The official Yapp app for the 2026 US Go Congress is now live, putting the entire Congress right on your smartphone.

Read More

Tri-City Memorial Day Preview Streams Friday Night

5/21/2026Chris GarlockNews

The Memorial Day weekend tournament action gets underway Friday night with the EJ Memorial Day Tri-City Preview Show, streaming live at 7 p.m. ET.

Read More

Burning Board Go Festival Returns to Raleigh June 15–21

5/19/2026Chris GarlockNews

Raleigh — Go players from across the region will gather this summer for the fifth annual Burning Board Go Festival, set for June 15–21 at Camp Crabtree in Umstead State Park. The weeklong event offers a unique blend of competition, study, casual games, and social activities in a scenic wooded setting just outside downtown Raleigh.

Read More

E-Journal to Livestream Memorial Day Tournament Action from Coast to Coast

5/18/2026Chris GarlockNews

This Memorial Day weekend, the AGA E-Journal will once again livestream top-board action from major tournaments in Baltimore, Chicago, and San Diego.

Read More

2026 US Go Congress Tops 400 Registrants!

5/15/2026Chris GarlockNews

Momentum is building for Boston! The 2026 US Go Congress -- July 25 to August 1 in Boston -- has officially surpassed 400 registered attendees.

Read More

Fang Runs the Table as Austin Tournament Hits Record Field

5/5/2026Chris GarlockNews

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.

Read More

AGA Ratings Get an Upgrade: Faster Reports, New Tools, and a Better Player Experience

5/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

Good things are happening behind the scenes with the American Go Association ratings system—and players and tournament directors should start noticing the difference immediately.

Read More

Overflow Hotel Added as Congress Extends Early Bird Rates

5/3/2026Chris GarlockNews

Registration momentum continues to build for the 2026 U.S. Go Congress, with organizers announcing updated hotel arrangements and an extension of early bird pricing through May 15 for returning attendees.

Read More

Nihon Ki-in Summer Go Camp 2026 Heads to Tokyo

4/30/2026Chris GarlockNews

Get ready for an immersive Go experience at the heart of Japan’s Go world.

Read More

🚨 LAST CALL: Early Bird Pricing for the 2026 US Go Congress Ends Tomorrow!

4/30/2026Chris GarlockNews

The clock is ticking—all registration prices will increase on May 2nd! If you are still on the fence about making the trip to Boston, don't miss out. The Congress is so much more than a tournament; it is the biggest Go celebration in North America. Here is a glimpse of what awaits you...

Read More

2026 Board of Directors Election Commencing

4/28/2026Chris GarlockNews

Four American Go Association (AGA) Board of Director seats are in play for the At-Large, Eastern, Western and Central regions.

Read More

Lee Tops Field at SF BadukPop Tournament

4/28/2026Chris GarlockNews

The 2026 BadukPop Tournament was held April 25 at the San Francisco Go Club, drawing nearly 50 players for four rounds of competition and a full day of play. Participants competed for more than $1,000 in prizes, along with trophies, certificates, and a catered lunch.

Read More

The Power Report: Ding Wins Yangming Cup; Shibano Challenges for Kisei

4/27/2026Chris GarlockNews

This is #3 in a series of reports covering the second half of 2025. The order is based on the date of the final deciding game in the tournament.

Read More

Shu Wins Seattle Go Center Spring Tournament

4/26/2026Chris GarlockNews

The Seattle Go Center hosted its Spring Tournament on April 19, 2026, drawing 14 players for a three-round event on a beautiful spring weekend.

Read More

Youth Takes Top Prize at Vermont Spring Go Tournament

4/26/2026Chris GarlockNews

It was a beautiful day on the Lake Champlain waterfront in Burlington, Vermont, as players gathered for the 2026 Vermont Spring Go Tournament on Saturday, April 25...

Read More

From the Archives: None Redmond at the World Amateur Go Championships

4/26/2026Chris GarlockNews

Twenty years ago, at the 2006 World Amateur Go Championships in Hangzhou, China, None Redmond—Michael’s mom, who celebrates her birthday today—generously conducted a series of interviews for the E-Journal. As a birthday gift to her—and to you, dear readers—we’ve gathered those interviews together here. Happy birthday, None!

Read More

Welcome to the Skittles Room: The Newest Congress Tradition You’ve Never Heard Of

4/23/2026Chris GarlockNews

So, you’ve made it to the US Go Congress. You wander into the main tournament hall, and the atmosphere is electric—but also utterly silent. It is a room full of intense concentration, furrowed brows, and the rhythmic whirring of clocks and clicks. But what happens when your open match ends?

Read More

Siyuan Fang Wins 4th New York State Go Championship; Jeremy Chiu and Gunyeol Yang Earn State Titles

4/23/2026Chris GarlockNews

The 4th New York State Go Championship was held on April 11–12, 2026, at the New York Institute of Go in Manhattan, bringing together players of all ages and levels for a weekend of strong competition, learning, and community.

Read More

The Power Report: Ichiriki defends 50th Meijin title

4/20/2026Chris GarlockNews

NOTE: This is #2 in a series of reports covering the second half of 2025. The order is based on the date of the final deciding game in the tournament.

Read More

Go and Good Times at California Senior Championship

4/20/2026Chris GarlockNews

A perfect record—and a bowl of chili—highlighted this year’s California State Senior Go Championship.

Read More