Go in Britain: 1975

The first London Open was held at Imperial College from 2nd to 5th January, Organised by Paul Prescott and was attended by 97 players, a third of whom were dan graded and a third of whom were from overseas. Winner was top London player Jon Diamond ahead of Berlin's Mattern. Matthew Macfadyen won the 1 kyu section. Other British prize winners included Messers Hawdon, Seaman, Webber and Dean.

The London Go Centre at 18 Lambolle Place NW3 opened on Easter Saturday, 29th March 1975. Open seven days a week from midday to 11 pm, membership was four pounds with 20p per day admission. At the opening ceremony were Iwamoto and Magari, both 9 dan, and Iwamoto's daughter. The party later went on to Bristol.

In the British Go Congress at Alsager College a record 116 players were in attendance. It was won by Jon Diamond on tie-break from Mr Ito and Tony Goddard. In the National Championship League, Jon Diamond won all seven games and was to challenge Paul Prescott to regain the British Title. July saw a Japanese tour party headed by Miss Kobayashi and Miss Ogawa (both pro 3 dan); they played a match at the London Go Centre.

The European Go Congress was held in Krems, 60 kilometres north-west from Vienna. 180 players from 13 countries attended. Jurgen Mattern won ahead of Manfred Wimmer. Britain's Jim Bates (3 dan) was ninth. Helmut Hasibeder was the Junior Champion. Visiting professionals were Kano and Sakakibara.

The first Northern Go Tournament was held at Manchester Polytechnic in the Autumn of 1975. Local man Colin Irving beat Toby Manning and 54 other players to receive the Red Rose Shield donated by John Barrs' widow. The 6th Wessex was won by Reading's David Sutton (2 dan). At the London Go Centre, as well as professional visits and the normal events, the final of the British Championship was regained by John Diamond 3-0 over Paul Prescott.

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