Promoting Go in the UK and beyond

The British Go Champion 2004 and 2005

Matthew Macfadyen first became British Go Champion in 1978. 2004 was his twentieth year as Champion - when he defeated Des Cann's challenge it became his twenty-first. He had a European rating of 2639 in early 2005.

After he became Champion in 1978, he defended the championship against several challengers until he was defeated by Terry Stacey in 1985. He failed to regain it in his challenge against Stacey in 1986. In 1987 Stacey lost the championship to Piers Shepperson. In 1988 Macfadyen regained the title by defeating Shepperson. He then again defended he championship against several challengers until 1993, when he was defeated by Shutai Zhang, who had trained in China as a professional Go player. Macfadyen failed to regain the title from Zhang the next three years. In 1997 Zhang returned to his native China, and Macfadyen was then able once more to regain the title. He has successfully defended it since then, losing only two games in the subsequent eight championship matches.