Go in Britain: 1979

Matthew Macfadyen beat Brian Castledine to take the British Championship, won the 1978 National Knockout and won 1979 Woodford and Cambridge; he was in his centre opening period. Unfortunately Brian Castledine was killed in a cliff accident whilst walking near Sussex University at the end of February. He was BGA President at the time and will be remembered as being responsible for the birth of the Go song.

The first World Amateur was held from 13th to 17th March at the Nihon Kiin in Tokyo. A five round knockout saw Britain's Jon Diamond going out in round one to Imamura, the Nihon Ki-in Amateur Champion. Nieh from China was the winner.

The 12th British Go Congress was held at the University of Bath. Mark Hall won the Lightning; Matthew Macfadyen and David Mitchell were tied in the Open. Toby Manning was the new BGA President. The first Bracknell was held at International Computers and was won by Macfadyen. Terry Stacey won Leicester.

Various visits overseas saw Macfadyen winning Prague and Stuart Dowsey leading a Go tour of China; British Go Journal 46 featured Go on the Great Wall on its cover. The European Go Championship was held near to Bonn. Macfadyen was fourth and Jurgen Mattern was Champion after a tie break with Schlemper and Rehm.

Matthew Macfadyen won the 1979 British Championship 3-1. 4 dan professional Yoshida Yoichi was in England and was able to comment on the first two games which Terry Stacey lost. Matthew also won Division One of the National Knockout Tournament. Macfadyen the Northern and Stacey the Wessex.

Best of the 124 players at the London Open at the end of 1979 was Robert Rehm, 4 dan from Holland, was two more wins than his nearest rivals Macfadyen (5 dan), David Mitchell (4 dan) and Cas Muller (4 dan Holland). Adam Pirani won the Lightning.

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