'Quzhou Lanke Cup' World Weiqi Open Tournament kicks off with intl qualifiers

Players compete in the international qualifiers for the 4th "Quzhou Lanke Cup" World Weiqi Open Tournament. [Photo/Tide News]

The first round of the international qualifiers for the 4th "Quzhou Lanke Cup" World Weiqi Open Tournament commenced on April 8 at the Quzhou Grand Garden International Hotel in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

Go, also known as weiqi in Chinese, is a strategy board game for two players.

In the open category, Chinese player Jiang Weijie (9-dan) defeated South Korean rising star Kim Seung-jin (7-dan), the champion of the 7th China-Japan-Korea Nie Weiping Cup Go Masters Tournament.

In the women's category, China's Ma Jiate (3-dan) lost to South Korea's Kim Eun-ji (9-dan), while Zhou Hongyu (7-dan) and Yu Zhiying (8-dan) both secured victories. In the senior group, Rui Naiwei (9-dan) emerged victorious.

Other Chinese players, including Fan Tingyu (9-dan) and Yang Dingxin (9-dan), as well as Xu Haohong (9-dan) and Lai Junfu (9-dan) from Taiwan, and South Korean player An Sung-jun (9-dan) also advanced to the second round.

Yu Weiluo, secretary-general of the Quzhou Weiqi Association, highlighted how the tournament has attracted top-tier players, strengthening the Go scene in Quzhou and providing learning opportunities for local talent.

A total of 375 players are competing, with 48 advancing to the main tournament, including 13 seeded players.

The tournament is recognized by the Chinese Weiqi Association as a premier event, serving as a symbol for Quzhou and spotlighting the city's rich Go culture.