UK News

Kidsgoserver.com, a new site designed specifically for kids aged 6 to 12, is now live on the web as a beta release.

A joint project of the American Go Foundation and the British Go Association, the server is designed to be a totally safe and kid friendly environment that can be used by anyone, and in schools.

We have reached agreement with the Irish Go Association to hold a joint Congress on Friday March 31st - Sunday April 2nd 2023, in Belfast. For the BGA this will be our usual annual Congress.

Further details on the exact venue will be available as they are firmed up.

The analysis by Mateusz Surma of the second British Championship title game has just been added to our YouTube channel.

A 30 minute analysis by Mateusz Surma of the first British Championship title match is now on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ZyuTXKFnlc4

Being a Mateusz video it is very approachable and understandable for all levels.

The second should be up in a couple of days.

Breaking News ...

In the last 10 minutes Gaoge Wang has beaten Bruno Poltronieri 2-0 to become the 2022 British Champion, and the first ever female British Champion.

Thanks go to the LGC for hosting and streaming it, and Matthew Macfadyen for the commentary.

Games 1 and 2 in the best of 3 title match between Gaoge Wang and Bruno Poltronieri will be at the London Go Centre on the 20th and 21st of August starting at 12:00 each day.

Thanks to the efforts of the LGC the match will be streamed live on the London Go Centre YouTube Channel, and we are pleased to have a commentary by Matthew Macfadyen. The streaming will allow you to ask questions and discuss the match whilst it is in progress.

We plan to publish full analyses of the games a little while after the event, both in the BGJ and on the BGA YouTube Channel.

For Saturday 2nd July the friendly Japan Society North West (JSNW) asked the BGA team if we'd like to return, to run stalls at their Japanese festival.

We signed up for 3 stalls, unsurprisingly - we've featured at many JSNW Japan Days or Doki Doki festivals over the years, as Calendar and News-followers will know.

Some events have also been held in Manchester (see below).

Details of the 2022 British Congress are now available on its web page Congress Info.

Entries are open.

One impact of Covid has been disruption to the Terry Stacey Grand Prix, which is an annual event that runs across tournaments between the British Go Congresses. The following have been agreed by the BGA Council to cover this situation, both now and in the future.

Rhubarb the Clown (aka Martin Solity 5k) appeared on ITV's "Midsommer Murders" on 14th January. In circus-themed episode 6 of series 20 "Send in the Clowns", Rhubarb is one of three clowns seen in the last scene of the episode.