Peikai’s Last Dance is at Manchester Open

The first Manchester Open was held on Saturday 9th August, a sunny summer day. The venue, Luther King House, is nestled in a peaceful, tree-lined suburb just a short distance from the vibrant heart of Manchester.

A total of 48 players joined this inaugural event, with strengths ranging from 25k to 6d. Most players competed in the spacious main room, where tall windows and skylights filled the space with natural light. The top seven boards played in a smaller, quieter room, with the first board broadcast live on OGS.

After three rounds, Yuhang Xing (6d), a university student from Glasgow, remained unbeaten to take first place. Things became interesting in the fight for second when Tik Wai Cheung (5d), Peikai Xue (4d) and Zhan Shi (3d) ended with identical MMS and SOSOS scores. After discussion with the players, the organisers decided to award trophies to Peikai Xue and Zhan Shi, while Tik Wai Cheung received the prize money for second place. Everyone was happy with the outcome.

In the under-16 category, Ezreal Yang (12k, Manchester) won a trophy and prize money for his three victories. Martin Harvey (6k, Manchester) and Caleb Tin Nam Fai (16k, Leeds) also earned trophies for winning all three games. The “Furthest Traveller” award went to Kwun Yin Ng (2d), who journeyed around 200 miles from London to take part. The winners are shown in the photo above. Results

The venue received many compliments. A lounge with comfortable sofas offered space for post-game reviews and relaxation. A large canteen served food and drinks, and a beautiful garden with a fountain sat in the centre of the complex — a favourite spot for children to play on a sunny day.

The hotel is only a stone’s throw from Manchester’s famous Curry Mile, and after the tournament a group of players headed there for a celebratory meal.

Peikai Xue, a familiar face at tournaments and winner of many trophies over the years, is sadly concluding his university studies and will be flying back to China immediately after the event. He will be fondly remembered for his contributions to the Go community.

"It was a successful and memorable tournament — full of laughter, good games, and great company," reported organiser Yangran Zhang.