Youth Go News 42 - August 2025

Editor, Toby Manning.

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Your Newsletter

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NEWS

St. Mary's School, Cambridge, Go Tournament

Paul Smith reports: "The 1st St Mary's School Go Tournament was held at St Mary's School, Cambridge on the evening of 21 May. There were 24 players, ranking from 6 kyu to beginner level. The top players played on 19x19 boards with a half hour time limit, and the others played on 13x13 with 15 minutes per game (or no clocks, for the less experienced players). Everyone played between 3 and 5 rounds.

There were five children from St Mary's School; the others were from various schools in the area including Milton Primary School and St Faith's School which have their own school Go clubs.

As well as the tournament, there was a chance to play against the Go-playing robot, and to watch an episode of the anime Hikaru no Go. The school provided some tasty food and drinks and some nice prizes for the winners.

Prizes went to the overall winner Andrew Volovich, Tomasz Kedzior who won the intermediate section and Oliver Trowell who won the lower section. There were additional prizes for Fane Dhamari and Max Volovich who both, despite both being only 8 years old, put in strong performances in the top section of the tournament; and to Agustin Besa who was the youngest player.

Many thanks are due to Lizzie Peck from St Mary's School who came up with the idea for the event and organised it so well, to St Mary's School for providing the venue, refreshments and prizes, to Andrea Smith for handling the Go robot, and to everyone else who was involved in helping and in publicising the tournament.

Sutton School Visit

On 23 June Joe Monk and Tony Atkins visited Sutton School where they gave two sessions, each teaching some 30 girls to play Go.

European Go Congress

At the European Go Congress, held in Warsaw during July/August, the following UK Youth players attended: • Alvina Kwok (3d) Main 5/10 Rapid 4/8 Weekend 3/5 Ladies 2/4 (equal 3rd) Youth (U-18) 2/4 Seygo 2/3. • Michael Mitcham-Harding (2k) Main 3/5 • Joshua_Sing_Ching Fai (11k) Weekend 2/5 Youth (U-12) 2/4 Seygo 3/4; he was in the top 5 and won a prize. • Rachel Chik (14 kyu) Main 6/10 Seygo 2/4 • Caleb_Tin Nam Fai (17 k) Weekend 3/5 youth (U-12) 3/4 and 5th position Seygo 3/4

Alvina (with Andrew Kay) and Joshua (with Helen Harvey) played in the Pairs. Joshua and Helen got 4/5 (and a prize).

Alvina, Michael and Rachel represented the UK in the Nation’s Cup (team competition).

Apologies for any omissions.

TOURNAMENTS

Pandanet Play-Off

We ended up bottom-but-one in Division A of the Pandanet Youth Go European Team Championships. The bottom team was relegated (and the top team in League B promoted), and the bottom-but-one team in League A and the second team in League B played off to see if they were also to be promoted/relegated. We therefore had to play off against Poland, and we won 3-2 to remain in League A. Individual results were as follows:

Ryan Zhang (RYANZ2013, 4d) beat Antoni Bugaj (Antek, 3d) by Resignation
Lea Wong (leazwong7, 2k) lost to Tymoteusz Barcicki (szkielet, 1k) by Resignation
Michael Mitcham-Harding (FKnife, 2k) lost to Adam Siwy (Siwy, 2k) by 9.5
Emily Gan (WStorm, 10k) beat Natalia Kolińska (Natalka, 20k) by 89.5
Lukasz Kudla (wopiwopi, 6k) beat Kacper Barcicki (czaszka, 14k) by 98.5

TEACHING/TRAINING

Cambridge Youth Go Events

Cambridge Youth Go is organising three Go days for children on Wednesdays during the summer holidays (they have already run these successfully for the past 3 years) at Milton Community Centre, Coles Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6BL from 08:30 until 17:30. on [30 July], 13 August and 27 August. Each day will be run by two or three Go teachers, including at least one dan level player. There is plenty of parking. Arriving late or leaving early will be fine.

There will be Go playing and Go teaching, mixed with regular breaks and the chance to play outside. If the weather is good we will have lunch outside in the country park, and at the end of the day we will play some other games and puzzles. Children who play Go at any level can join, and it doesn't matter whether you want to take part in one, two or all three days.

Please bring your own nut-free packed lunch

Cost: • For one child it costs £35 for 1 day, £60 for 2 and £75 for 3 days • For two or more children from the same family, each day costs £25 per child e.g. 1 day for two siblings would cost £50

Payment must be made in advance to Cambridge University Go Society Junior Club: (Sort code 20-17-19, account number 03885569)

To register or for more information please contact Paul Smith at paul361smith@gmail.com or 07503 898934. Please register as soon as possible because places are limited.

FUTURE EVENTS

8 November (provisional) - British Youth
7 February 2026 - London Youth
25-28 March 2026 - European Youth Championships - Croatia

ONLINE MEETINGS

The Tuesday evening club on playstrategy is suspended until the autumn term. For details, parents/carers should contact Paul Smith, email paul361smith AT gmail DOT com.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Here are some useful resources/links:

BGA Website: Junior Pages
BGA Youth Go X ("Twitter") account @britishyouthgo, kept fairly active (369 followers)
Instagram - account is uk_youth_go - 143 followers
BGA Youth Go OGS (closed group, 156 members including adult organisers). If you are a new member, please complete this form.
BGA Youth Go Discord Channel

PROBLEMS

Black to play