The 1st International Para Go Tournament in Seoul, Korea

Antonius Claasen / February 27, 2025

Following my participation in the 1st Korean Baduk Congress in Taebaek, I had attended the 1st International Para Go Tournament tailored for players with disabilities. This event was successful with over 40 participants from the following nations and regions:
1.Korea
2.Japan
3.China
4.Taiwan
5.Russia
6.Mongolia

The competition was divided into three distinct categories, with all participants demonstrating remarkable enthusiasm and engagement:
Category A: Players ranked below 5 dan
Category B: Players ranked 5 dan and above
Group: Visually Impaired/Blind Players

While Categories A and B had intense matches—even with clear differences in skill levels—what impressed me most was the group of visually impaired and blind players.

Some years ago, I encountered adaptive Go equipment during a match against a player who was losing his eyesight. He asked me to play our game in a place specially prepared for him with extra light and the material for visually impaired players. He wanted to practise playing with this material before becoming completely blind.

Now seeing this again with a group of 14 blind players, I was impressed by the way they managed to assess the games and shapes on the board with just their hands and fingers.

The tournament was a great success for all participants, and this start deserves to continue with more activities in the future.

The foundation of the International Para Go Federation is a great next step and I am sure this initiative could foster inclusivity and elevate competitive opportunities for disabled Go players worldwide.

Prizewinners:
Category A (5 Dan and above):
1st Place: Kim Dong-Han (7 Dan)
2nd Place: Xie Haitao (6 Dan)
3rd Place: Lin Kang (7 Dan)

Category B (Below 5 Dan):
1st Place: Joo Young Gon (5 Dan)
2nd Place: Lee Woon Hyoung (5 Dan)
3rd Place: Bogdanov Viktor (3 Dan)

Group Visually Impaired/Blind:
1st Place: Iwasaki Haruto (7 Dan)
2nd Place: Xu Guanglin (5 Dan)
3rd Place: Song Joong Taek (5 Dan)