British Go Congress 2026
Friday 10th–Sunday 12th April 2026
Stephen Perse Foundation (Senior School), Union Rd, Cambridge CB2 1HF
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Tournament details
The annual British Go Congress is one of the flagship tournaments of UK Go, bringing together players from across the UK and beyond. As usual, the 2026 edition will open on Friday evening with the British Open Lightning, a friendly social handicap tournament, followed by a full weekend of play in the British Open.
British Open Lightning Championship (Friday 10th)
- Rating: Unrated.
- Format: Five-round Swiss with handicap equal to rank difference. If the handicap would exceed 9 stones, White may choose between Black taking reverse komi (15 points per extra stone) or placing extra handicap stones according to the pattern here. Ties broken by direct comparison, SOS or playoff with accelerated time controls.
- Time controls: Fischer time with 5 minutes + 3 seconds per move.
- Schedule: The following schedule is approximate. Rounds will begin shortly after the previous one ends.
| Friday 10th | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:45–19:15 | Registration (Lightning players only) | 20:20–20:45 | Round 3 |
| 19:30–19:55 | Round 1 | 20:45–21:10 | Round 4 |
| 19:45 onwards | Registration for British Open | 21:10–21:35 | Round 5 |
| 19:55–20:20 | Round 2 | 21:35–22:00 | Tiebreaks, if needed |
British Open Championship (Saturday 11th–Sunday 12th)
- Rating: Class A EGD rated.
- Format: Six-round McMahon with handicap equal to MMS minus one. Ties broken by SOS.
- Time controls: Fischer time with 45 minutes + 15 seconds per move.
- Schedule:
| Saturday 11th | Sunday 12th | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:45 | Registration for British Open | 9:15–12:00 | Round 4 |
| 10:00–12:45 | Round 1 | LUNCH | |
| LUNCH | 12:45–15:30 | Round 5 | |
| 13:45–16:30 | Round 2 | 15:40–18:25 | Round 6 |
| 16:45–19:30 | Round 3 | 18:30–18:45 | Prizegiving |
Registering
Online pre-registration
Please enter in advance using the Entry Form. You will be asked to select your fee category for the British Open (see below). Pre-registered players will appear on the Entries List.
Pre-registration helps us organise the tournament, but all players must still register at the venue before playing.
Registration at venue
All players must register at the venue so that we can confirm attendance and collect entry fees. You may also register at the event if you have not pre-registered online. Fees may be paid by cash or card, though exact cash is preferred to speed up the process.
- If playing the British Lightning: register between 18:45–19:15 on Friday. You may register for both the Lightning and the Open at this time.
- If playing the British Open only: register either on Friday evening after the Lightning begins, or on Saturday morning before Round 1.
Registering on Friday evening means that on Saturday you only need to arrive in time for Round 1, though we recommend arriving by 9:45 to hear the announcements.
Fees
British Lightning
- Adult standard: £10
- Youth or new EGD adult not playing British Open: £5
- All new EGD players also playing British Open: FREE – a great chance to establish your rating (may be adjusted if needed)
British Open
- Adult standard: £30 (+ £5 if not member of BGA or your national association)
- Adult new to EGD: £20
- Youth (U18): £15
- The above rates are halved for single-day entries. When registering, please select the correct fee category and leave a note in the additional information box.
Prizes
- Top 5 places: A dynamic cash prize fund based on entry numbers – details TBA.
- Additional prizes (British nationals/residents):
- Free entry to the 2026 Candidates' tournament for the top-placed player who qualifies and is eligible for the British Championship.
- KPMC points for the top 8 British nationals.
- Top below 1900: Free entry to the 2026 Aspirants' tournament for the top-placed player rated under 1900.
- Lightning: 1st place – £50, 2nd place – £25.
- Good performance: Small trophies and vouchers for standout performances in both events.
- Raffle: Win prizes! Everyone gets a ticket for entering, plus one extra ticket for each win.
Logistics
Getting here
The Stephen Perse Senior School is in the heart of Cambridge, a short walk from the central Cambridge Train Station. Cambridge is well-connected to the rest of the UK by public transport and by air with the nearby Stansted Airport. Routes:
- Cambridge Train Station ➤ venue (15-minute walk)
- By air: Stansted Airport ➤ venue (50 minutes, direct train or coach)
- By Eurostar: London King's Cross St Pancras ➤ venue (1 hour 15 minutes, direct train)
Parking
Parking on-site is extremely limited. You may wish to consider using a park & ride site which offer free parking, and taking a bus to the venue (£4.50 for adult return or free for English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass holders); the closest is Trumpington PR3. For parking by the venue, the closest council car park is Queen Anne Terrace. Routes:
- Trumpington park & ride ➤ venue (15 minutes, direct bus)
- Queen Anne Terrace car park ➤ venue (9-minute walk)
Accommodation
There are a wide range of options available near the venue; you may wish to check the usual sites like Booking.com or Airbnb, or chain hotels like Travelodge or Premier Inn.
Food and drink
There are many restaurants nearby. We will have sign-up sheets at the event to assist people in finding dining companions should they want to.
Sightseeing
Cambridge is a beautiful historic city in England, famous for its world-renowned university, stunning architecture, and peaceful riverside scenery. There is no shortage of things to do; see Visit Cambridge or Tripadvisor for some suggestions.
The banner image is based on Cambridge Backs by Alex Brown, used under a CC BY 2.0 licence. Modified from the original.
Contact
For any queries, please email tournament-chair@britgo.org. A telephone number will be emailed to registrants a few days prior to the tournament for urgent matters on the day.
If you have any comments, please email the webmaster on web-master AT britgo DOT org.