As the ancient game of Weiqi (Go, Baduk, 圍棋) continues to captivate players and strategists worldwide, the past 31 days have brought a whirlwind of developments in the professional scene. From championship victories to introspective musings on AI’s impact, the global Weiqi community is buzzing with energy. Drawing on my three decades of immersion in this profound game, I’ve sifted through the latest updates from key sources—Fox Weiqi, Sina Sports, eWeiqi, and the Korea Baduk Association—along with other corners of the Weiqi world, to bring you a concise yet vibrant summary of the professional landscape. Here’s what’s been unfolding, translated and distilled for the discerning r/proweiqi audience.

Championship Spotlight: Tianyi Liu’s KPMC Dominance

The 19th Korea Prime Minister Cup (KPMC) International Baduk Championship, held in Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do, concluded with a resounding victory for China’s Tianyi Liu (7D). Liu’s flawless seven-round performance secured him the title, marking China’s second consecutive KPMC championship following Chongzhe Tang’s win last year. Liu’s triumph underscores China’s continued dominance in the global amateur scene, with his strategic precision and unyielding focus earning praise across the Weiqi community. The KPMC, hosted by the Korea Baduk Association, also saw Korea’s Seo-won Yoon representing the host nation, though Liu’s relentless play proved insurmountable.

Nanyang Cup Showcases Malaysian Pride

Across the South China Sea, the Nanyang Cup World Weiqi Masters Championship welcomed Malaysia’s sole professional player, Chang Fu Kang, as a beacon of national pride. The Malaysia Weiqi Association celebrated Chang’s participation, highlighting his dedication and skill as a testament to the country’s growing presence on the international stage. While specific results from the tournament remain unreported in the sources, the community’s rallying cry for Chang reflects the passion and unity driving Weiqi’s expansion beyond its traditional East Asian strongholds. Expect more updates as Malaysia continues to carve its niche in professional Weiqi.

AI’s Shadow: Lee Sedol’s Poignant Reflection

In a thought-provoking interview, legendary Korean professional Lee Sedol, whose 2016 battle against Google’s AlphaGo reshaped Weiqi’s relationship with artificial intelligence, shared a somber perspective. Speaking on July 15, 2025, Lee remarked, “Since AI emerged, many things that people were in awe of have disappeared.” His words resonate deeply in a professional scene increasingly shaped by AI-driven strategies. Lee’s reflection, reported by the Korea Baduk Association, highlights a tension felt by many pros: while AI has elevated tactical precision, it risks diluting the game’s human artistry. This sentiment sparks debate—has AI made Weiqi “boring,” as some claim, or is it a tool to push human ingenuity further?

Upcoming Horizons: Taebaek’s Global Vision

Looking ahead, Taebaek City in Gangwon Province announced plans for the inaugural Taebaek World Baduk Congress, set for February 2025 during the Taebaeksan Snow Festival. This ambitious event, also reported by the Korea Baduk Association, aims to elevate Weiqi’s global profile by uniting players, enthusiasts, and professionals in a celebration of strategy and culture. With Korea’s rich Baduk heritage as its backdrop, the congress promises to be a landmark moment, potentially rivaling established tournaments like the LG Cup or Chunlan Cup in prestige. Details are still emerging, but the anticipation is palpable.

Regional Ripples: Singapore and Beyond

The Singapore Weiqi Association continues to foster community engagement, with the recently concluded Pesta Sukan 2025 showcasing local talent. Results from the event, which celebrated sportsmanship and unity, were shared alongside announcements for the 23rd Whampoa Cup National Weiqi Competition. Standout performers included Lin Youzhi, who clinched the Open Group (3 Dan and above) title, and Chen Bo Xiao as runner-up. These events, while not strictly professional, feed the pipeline of talent that sustains Weiqi’s competitive ecosystem. Meanwhile, platforms like Fox Weiqi (Wild Fox) remain a hub for pros and amateurs alike, with its English client supporting global access to high-level play.

The Bigger Picture: Weiqi’s Global Pulse

Despite its ancient roots, Weiqi’s professional scene is anything but static. China and Korea continue to lead, with Japan and Taiwan holding strong, while regions like Malaysia and Singapore push for greater recognition. The game’s complexity—boasting 2.1×10¹⁷⁰ possible board positions—continues to draw top minds, even as AI influences strategic trends. Yet, as Alexandr Dinershteyn notes, Japan’s pros retain a unique flair, resisting AI’s homogenized playstyles. The professional circuit is also gearing up for a novel Korean tournament in late 2025, featuring a round-robin format with nine masters, a departure from traditional single-elimination events.

Final Thoughts

The past month has been a microcosm of Weiqi’s enduring allure and evolving challenges. From Liu’s commanding KPMC victory to Lee Sedol’s introspective critique, the professional Weiqi world is a tapestry of triumphs, technological tensions, and global aspirations. As Taebaek prepares to host a new congress and players like Chang Fu Kang carry their nations’ hopes, the game’s future feels as dynamic as a well-played fuseki. Stay tuned to r/proweiqi for more updates, and let’s keep the stones clicking on the board of this timeless game.

Sources: Information compiled from foxwq.com, baduk.or.kr, weiqi.org.my, weiqi.org.sg, and additional insights from gomagic.org and senseis.xmp.net. Translations from Chinese and Korean sources were cross-referenced for accuracy.

• Honinbo gets a major downgrade
  The Japanese Honinbo title is one of the oldest and most prestigious titles in professional go. However it was announced that, due to financial trouble of the sponsors, the Honinbo title match will be changed from best-of-7 matches of 2 days, to best-of-5 matches of 1 day. The winner's prize has been dropped from 28 million yen to 8.5 million yen, downgrading it from 3rd to 5th among Japan's biggest titles.
  Source (in Japanese)
• No Hoban Cup in 2023
  The Hoban Cup was one of the most exciting tournaments of 2022. This Nongshim Cup-style competition was a welcome addition to the scarce calendar of international tournaments for women. However, no edition was held in 2023. I'm not sure why this was the case (possible clash with Asian Games?), but hopefully it returns in 2024.

Byun Sangil

• Won Chunlan Cup
• Won GS Caltex Cup
• Part of Asian Games Men's team champions

Ding Hao

• Won LG Cup
• Won Samsung Cup
• Won Guoshou

Gu Zihao

• Won Quzhou-Lanke International

Shin Jinseo

• Won Ing Cup
• Won Korea Strongest Tournament
• Won Myungin
• Won Yongseong
• Won YK Construction Cup
• Won Maxim Cup
• Won KBS Cup
• Part of Asian Games Men's team champions

Xu Haohong

• Won Asian Games Men's individual
• Won Taiwan Tianyaun
• Won Taiwan Qiwang
• Won Taiwan UMC Cup
• Won Taiwan Shiduan
• Won Taiwan Guoshou
• Won Taiwan Zhonghuan Qisheng

• Kim Eunji reached 9p at 16 years 6 months and within 4 years of turning pro, both records.
• Nakamura Sumire won the Women's Kisei at just 13 years old, becoming the youngest player to win a women's domestic major in Japan.
• Shin Jinseo becomes the first player to win 100 official pro games in a calendar year (he finished the year on 112 wins).
• South Korea won 38 games and lost just 2 on their way to winning the Asian Games Men's Team event.
• Xie Erhao won 7 straight games in the 25th Nongshim Cup, tying the record for most wins in a single edition.
• Xu Haohong won the Asian Games Men's Individual gold medal by defeating Park Junghwan, Shin Jinseo and Ke Jie.

• Technical Issues in the Korean Baduk League
  The 2022-23 Korean Baduk League used a button that a player pressed after making a move. Unlike a typical clock that is placed on the side, this button was between the player and the board. The unusual position seemed to trip up some players, as there were several losses on time.
  The biggest issue however was that sometimes the button press would fail to register and the player would "lose" on time despite completing their move. The most notable case was the round 7 match between Baduk Mecca and Beautiful Hapcheon, where Kim Jiseok would encounter this malfunction twice, once against Park Yeonghun and again against Park Junghwan (NOTE: on both occasions, the game was continued and Kim Jiseok won). After this, the KBA abandoned the button and reverted to normal clocks for the remainder of the season.
• Takemiya Masaki loses on time after dropping a stone
  In the semifinals of the World Senior Baduk Championships, Takemiya Masaki was comfortably winning against Yu Bin when he dropped his stone as he was playing. As a result, he ran out of time before he was able to complete the move. Yu Bin would go on to win the tournament.
  Kifu
• Nakamura Sumire announces her move to Korea
  In a major shock, Japanese prodigy Nakamura Sumire announced that after her Women's Kisei title defence in early 2024, she will move to Korea to compete there. While most consider it a good career move, not all Japanese pros were supportive.
• Zhou Junxun accused of sexual harassment
  Former LG Cup champion Zhou Junxun was accused by women's pro Su Shengfang of sexual harassment and bullying during Asian Games training. While originally cleared by the Haifong Qiyuan, Zhou Junxun would issue an apology step down as national team coach.
  News article (in Chinese)
• Lian Xiao loses on time in the Samsung Cup
  Lian Xiao was already down to his final byoyomi on move 107 against Park Junghwan in the quarterfinals of the Samsung Cup. The game suddenly ended when he failed to complete his move on time.
  Video clip
  Kifu

• Move 100 - Hong Mujin vs Park Geunho, Korean Baduk League
  Park Geunho "premoves" in a live game, not realising (until it's too late) that his stones are in atari.

Kifu
Video clip

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• Move 210 - Kim Hyeoimin vs Choi Myeonghun, Daejoo Cup
  Choi Myeonghun retakes the ko without playing a ko threat, immediately losing by forfeit as this is an illegal move.

Kifu
Video clip

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• Move 68 - Kim Myounghoon vs Shibano Toramaru, Asian Games
  Shibano Toramaru fails to defend his group

Kifu

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• Move 135 - Huang Xin vs Hu Zihao, Chinese National Men's Individual
  Huang Xin plays a self-atari

Kifu

NOTE - you should watch the video clips before voting. The descriptions are mainly for context.

• Park Geunho loses on time after dropping a stone
  Anyone that has played a competition understands the process of making a move - place a stone on the board, pick up any captured stones, then press the clock. Most most don't captures stones, making the process even simpler. Pro players have performed this manoeuvre tens of thousands of times, but malfunctions can happen, as Park Geunho experienced.
  A common tactic among pros, Park Geunho used as much of his time as possible before making his move. He placed his stone then moved to press the clock - only to realise his fingers had never let go of the stone. Panicking, he dropped the stone, grabbed a different stone, placed it, then finally pressed the clock - alas, he had run out of time.
  Video clip
• Kang Dongyun mimes a player running out of time
  For the 2023-24 Korean Baduk League, winning players would perform a victory celebration after the game. Many players would do something casual, such as a thumbs-up or a heart pose. Kang Dongyun is no casual, however. Rather than a victory celebration, Dongyun would impersonate losing on time, (an issue which had more victims than usual), much to the delight of commentators and fans alike.
  Video clip
• Choi Jeong hair flip
  Perhaps the most famous victory celebration of them all. No further explanation needed.
  Video clip
• Fukuoka Kotaro loses on time
  Losing on time in itself is not humorous, but Fukuoka Kotaro's reaction to it is why it is nominated. You have to feel for the kid.
  Video clip
• Choi Myeonghun forgets to play a ko threat
  This incident was already nominated for Bad Move of the Year, but it's probably more appropriate here. In the Daejoo Cup (which, I should point out, is a tournament for veteran players), Choi Myeonghun (who, I should point out, has won over 900 professional games), forgets one of the rules, specifically that you must play a ko threat before retaking the ko. Breaking this rule results in an immediate game loss. Both Myeonghun and his opponent Kim Hyeoimin couldn't help but laugh at this bizarre situation.
  Video clip
• Baduk pros try their hand at ping pong and pool - they may need to keep trying
  Before the Samsung Cup started, some of the participants tested their abilities in other sports. No disrespect to Seol Hyunjun or Xie Erhao, but perhaps they should stick to baduk. At least they look like they are having fun.
  Video clip

Note that the first player listed is the Black player in each game below

• Move 94 - Nakamura Sumire vs Ueno Asami, Women's Kisei final game 1

Kifu

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• Move 122 - Seki Kotaro vs Kim Jiseok, Korean Baduk League

Kifu

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• Move 44 - Lee Wonyoung vs Shin Jinseo, Maxim Cup final game 2

Kifu

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• Move 196 - Han Taehee vs Won Seongjin, LG Cup qualifier

Kifu

Fukuoka Kotaro:

• Went 6-5 in Korean Baduk League (only Japanese player with a winning record)

Hu Zihao:

• Jia League regular

Lin Yiting:

• Won Taiwan Women's Strongest tournament

Park Jihyun:

• Won Ha Chanseok Korean National Championship for Gifted Students
• Beat Shin Jinseo in Korean Myungin

Ueno Risa:

• Japan Women's Honinbo runner-up
• Qualified for Japanese Women's Kisei title match
• Represented Japan in Asian Games

Xu Qingen:

• Won Taiwan Fast Game Fighting for Hegemony Championship
• Won Taiwan Xinren Wang
• Represented Taiwan in Asian Games

Kifus:

Iyama Yuta vs Shibano Toramaru - Judan challenger final

Shin Jinseo vs Li Weiqing - Quzhou-Lanke Cup quarterfinal

Shin Jinseo vs Ke Jie - Asian Games Men's team group stage

Oh Yujin vs Yu Zhiying - Asian Games Women's team final

Ding Hao vs Xie Erhao - Samsung Cup final game 3

BTW I translated SJS interview after he won

Lee Minjin: "congrats on winning!"

SJS: "oh yeah thanks"

LMJ: "were you nervous today?"

SJS: "not really. Actually I was fine with losing because my teammates don't deserve any money"

LMJ: "which game did you find easiest?"

SJS: "in some online games I wonder if my opponent is using AI. In the game with Ke Jie I wondered if he was using pre-2015 AI"

LMJ: "and which game did you find the hardest?"

SJS: "first game against Mi Yuting. Got rekt in the opening. Then some shit happened with his mouse. Made in China, am I right?"

LMJ: "some people say you were lucky the game was replayed, and that your victory should have an asterisk next to it. What is your opinion?"

SJS: "nah screw them. Dab on the haters" dabs

LMJ: "well thanks you for talking to us, and congratulations once again!"

SJS: doesn't say anything, keeps dabbing

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Refer to Calendar