The Czech Republic won the finals of the Pandanet Go European Team Championship, held at the European Go Congress in Olsztyn, Poland. The top four teams from the A-League played each other over three rounds to determine the winner. Unfortunately a clock problem on board two of Czechia v Ukraine in round one meant that game having to be replayed. As Russia beat Hungary but drew with the Czechs and the Ukrainians, the Czech Republic could win if they won this last game (having also beaten Hungary). If the game went Ukraine's way they would be second to Russia on tie-break. So Jan Hora and Bohdan Zhurakovskyj were the focus of everyone's attention, in Poland and on Pandanet, with Hora winning the game by resignation and hence the Championship for his team.

Results

The two Russia women dominated the eight player all-play-all European Women's Go Championship. Natalia Kovaleva was the unbeaten winner, Dina Burdakova second. The UK's Alison Bexfield won one game to come 7th. Results

Natalia and Dina also qualified for the European team to the SportAccord World Mind Games. They will join the winners of the SportAccord Mind Games European Qualifier, Fan Hui and Pavol Lisy. This event was also part of the Leksand Summer Go Camp and was held from 20th to 22nd July with 12 invited men players.

The other two members of the European team are Svetlana Shikshina and Ilya Shikshin who previously qualified by winning the 2013 European Pair Go Championship.

The London Go Picnic held on Sunday 21st July was very successful. Despite the heatwave the sun was not too bright and there were plenty of trees in St James' Park to hide under and there was always the trip to the pub, for more games afterwards, to allow players to quench their thirsts.

Congratulations to youngsters Rebecca Margetts and Oscar Selby, who finished top of the handicap section at this year's British Pair Go Championship, above 14 players (nearly all adults). This meant that they got their hands on the trophies (pairs go-bowls), which just eluded them when they lost in the final in 2012. There's clearly proof in the old adage "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.". Well done, Rebecca and Oscar, especially as their combined average grade of 22.5 kyu was 7 whole grades stronger than the year before. Could anybody beat them in 2014?

The 25th Milton Keynes Tournament was held at the Open University's sports pavilion. The 34 players were able to enjoy the heat wave by sitting on the balcony between matches.

Bruno Poltronieri (2d) from Warwick University won the event. He beat Toby Manning in the last round, who thus came second. Mike Cockburn (1k) was third. Graham Blackmore (13k) and Brent Cutts (8k) also won all three games.

The East Midlands team - Toby Manning, Peter Fisher, Andre Cockburn and Brent Cutts - won the team prize with an highly respectable score of 8 wins out of 12.

The winner of the infamous Milton Keynes Board Tournament was one of the event organisers, Tim Hunt with 4.5 wins out of 6.

Results

Go featured on part 4 of "Child Genius" on Channel 4 on 2nd July. Oscar Selby was shown visiting the Oxford Tournament and playing in the British Youth go Championships at Aston, against various young players and receiving a prize from Tony Atkins.

Ben Murphy and Tony Atkins hosted our stand at the London AnimeCon at the London Metropolitan University, Holloway Road on 20th/21st July.

Many people who had read the Hikaru no Go manga were interested in our stand, as well as game players and others!

In an exciting conclusion to the Welsh Open at Barmouth, three players entered the last round with a chance of winning the tournament. In fact all three won their games, but it was Welshman Dylan Carter (1d Cardiff) who came out on top, by half a SOS point. Second and third places went to Richard Hunter (3d Bristol) and Toby Manning (2d Leicester). John Green (4k Leamington) and Colin Maclennan (10k Twickenham) also won four games out of five. There were 27 players overall, and 18 players and spouses enjoyed a very pleasant meal at the Min-y-Mor Hotel (the tournament venue) on the Saturday evening. The weather, however, could best be described as ideal for indoor games.

Results

Durham's annual Go tournament was held in the Elvet Riverside lecture buildings this year. They had 27 people play over the course of the weekend, with ranks ranging from 20k to 5d. Many of the entrants were students, including some who had only learned this year. On the Saturday night - in a change from tradition - instead of going to a restaurant they instead held a Go BBQ where, despite the unexpected rain, there was much food eaten and Go played.

The tournament was won by Alex Kent (3d Bristol, but formerly of Durham), with Sandy Taylor (2d also Bristol, formerly of Durham) coming second. The side events - lightning and small board - were won by Carel Goodheir (10k Skye) and Josh Green (11k Durham) respectively.

Martin is the BGA Junior section web-master (June 2013).

Feel free to contact him via this link.