The British Go Association (BGA) exists to promote and support, the playing of the oriental board game Go in the United Kingdom.
Go is known as igo in Japanese, as weiqi or wei-ch'i in Chinese, and as baduk in Korean.
The BGA has existed for over 40 years, and is actively involved in the organisation and co-ordination of tournaments. The BGA plays an active part in the European Go Federation (EGF), taking its turn to be the host to the annual European Go Congress. Here is its constitution.
Anyone may join the BGA, for a small membership fee: details.
Just to make sure you know who’s who, here is a list of Officials of the BGA.
The BGA has over 600 members, and we cannot tell you about them all here. But we do have pictures of some of them, including those who attend tournaments most, or are on the BGA Council. You can see these pictures in the BGA Picture Gallery.
Here is a list of BGA clubs.
The BGA publishes:
In addition, the American Go Association allows BGA members to receive the full members’ version of its weekly eJournal, which includes excellent teaching material, in addition to Go news from around the world. Members who wish to receive this should use the sign-up form.
The BGA also has a selection of promotional material for use by Go clubs and at publicity events.
If you want to contribute to the British Go Journal, please see the guidelines for contributions.
Many of the ways that the BGA operates are described on the BGA policies page.
The BGA provides three email discussion list, for general discussion, for debate about how the BGA is run, and for organisers of youth Go. Here is how to join.
Each year a sponsor generously provides air tickets to allow British Go players to compete in the World Amateur Go Championship as representatives of Britain. There is also representation in European tournaments, such as the Ing Memorial and the Toyota-Denso Oza.
If representatives were chosen purely on the basis of strength, few players would benefit. They are therefore awarded on the basis of accumulated points.
The BGA provides books, sets, and other supplies, at special members’ prices by post. There is a full price list.
Go playing and recording software is freely available from the BGA Software Catalogue.
The Association provides an analysis service, help with putting on tournaments, and other services to members and clubs.
The Association monitors the European Go Ratings and promotes players in the dan grades when they reach a certain standard. The BGA rating list shows the rating and grade equivalent of all tournament active players. There is also a list of active British dan-graded players.
The BGA organises an annual British Go Championship. The champion is the winner of a five game match between the top two players in the Challengers' League. Players qualify for the League by playing in the Candidates' Tournament which is open to all active players above about 1 kyu in strength.
A History of the British Go Championship is also available. Matthew Macfadyen has been the champion in most recent years.
The rules of the British Championship are given here.
Around 25 Go tournaments are held regularly in Britain each year. The BGA helps with the organisation of these, and lends Go sets and clocks for them.
(Between rounds in these tournaments, unofficial activities sometimes take place, such as the playing of a card game called “pits”).
This site gives the results of past tournaments and a calendar of future ones. It also summarises British Go history.
Tournaments held in co-operation with the BGA normally use the BGA-approved rules of Go.
If you plan to take children to a Go tournament, you should read the BGA policy on working with children and young people.
Those interested in running their own tournament should check out the Tournament Organisers’ FAQ.
We are offering free web space (up to 50kB) to BGA affiliated Go clubs. If you want your club to have its own page, just send the webmaster an email containing the text (in html if you can manage it) and any graphics. Suggested use might include directions (with a map), plus any special activities you are running.