Pair Go in UK

British Pair Go Championships

In the UK we held our first qualifying event for Pair Go in Hyde Park as part of the 1991 Japanese Festival. Since 1995 we have held an annual British Pair Go Championships (BPGC) which has become one the best events on the Go claendar. It is always held in a pleasant hotel, nowadays in a hotel in the Oxfordshire countryside. There is always a buffet lunch and prizes for most, including the Best Dressed Pair prize. The top eight rated pairs play for the championship, whilst others play in a handicap section. The top section players also play for points to allow them to represent the UK in both the European and World championships.

Place, Results and Champions

• 1991 Hyde Park Results N/A Sue Paterson & Jim Barty
• 1992 London Results N/A Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 1993 Leamington Results N/A Alison Jones & Andrew Jones
• 1994 Leamington Results N/A Alison Jones & Nick Webber
• 1995 Marlow Results N/A Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 1996 Weedon Results N/A Alison Jones & Tony Atkins
• 1997 Weedon Results N/A Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 1998 Weedon Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 1999 Stokenchurch Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2000 Oxford Results Emma Marchant & Simon Goss
• 2001 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2002 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2003 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2004 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2005 Oxford Results Natasha Regan & Matthew Cocke
• 2006 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
• 2007 Oxford Results Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen

Handicap Winners

• 1995 Hannah Ellul & France Ellul / Debbie Jones & Francis Weaver
• 1996 Alison Ewens & David Woodnutt / Yvonne Mao & Paul Margetts
• 1997 Jenifer Healey & Toby Manning / Yvonne Margetts & Paul Margetts
• 1998 Pauline Bailey & Steve Bailey
• 1999 Jini Williams & Fred Holroyd
• 2000 Fiona Campbell & Jim Edwards
• 2001 Nicola Hurden & Shawn Hearn
• 2002 Nicola Hurden & Shawn Hearn
• 2003 Elinor Brooks & Erik Hall
• 2004 Pauline Bailey & Steve Bailey
• 2005 Maria Tabor & Paul Tabor
• 2006 Jackie Chai & John Johnstone
• 2007 Lydia Feasey & Jonathan Englefield

Players earn a point for each game won in the BPGC towards earning the right to represent UK at the World Championships. The best Pair are selected using the combined points from each Pair and their points are reset to zero when they Go. Official Representatives at the European Pair Go Championships are similarly decided.

Partner Relationships

Pair Go has been played by all sorts of different pairings and ages of players. Pauline and Steve Bailey are mother and son; Paul and Maria Tabor are father and daughter. Pauline is over 70 and Maria just a teenager. There have been club mates and pairings from oposite ends of the country. There have been a few husband and wife pairs, but generally this is thought of leading to too many marital arguements so many avoid it! Of course pairs usually discuss in advance what they will be wearing, so that they can stand a chance of winning the Best Dressed Pair prize.

Pair Go Reports

Each year an illustrated report of the Pair Go event is produced and circulated with the BGA Newsletter. Of course a copy is sent to the Japanese Pair Go Committee for their records.

The most recent reports are below in pdf format:

• 2001 Report (358 kb)
• 2002 Report (532 kb)
• 2003 Report (237 kb)
• 2004 Report (644 kb)
• 2005 Report (724 kb)
• 2006 Report (414 kb)
• 2007 Report (751 kb)

Other Pair Go events

There have been Pair Go side events at some of the longer competitions such as the London Open and three times at the Mind Sports Olympiad.

Pair Go Promotion Partners

In order to promote Pair Go in the UK, a British version of the Pair Go Promotion Partners scheme was set up. As well as supporting the ideas behind Pair Go, members of the British PGPP support the BPGC through a donation, which enables it to be held in a nice location and not be expensive for children to take part. In return they get a free entry to the BPGC.

British PGPP members:

• Are enthusiastic about spreading Pair Go in Britain
• Understand that Pair Go is a pair game for ladies and gentlemen who greatly value etiquette
• Appreciate the pleasure of playing Go, yet believe a high level of playing ability is not necessary