Teenage Go prodigy Sumire Nakamura on Feb. 6 defeated Asami Ueno, a 21-year-old female Kisei, becoming the youngest player to have captured one of the major titles in the traditional board game in Japan at 13 years and 11 months.
By Chao Yen-hsiang / CNAThe unprecedented dominance shown by Taiwanese pro go player Hsu Hao-hung （許皓鋐） at home this year, winning eight of nine major domestic titles, has raised hopes that Taiwan’s 15-year title drought at top-flight international go events could finally end.
DAZAIFU, Fukuoka Prefecture In the end, go champion Yuta Iyama once again claimed the prestigious Honinbo championship for the 11th straight year, beating his top rival Ryo Ichiriki.
Professional go player Hsu Chia-yuan (許家元) was on Monday conferred the title of ninth dan the highest professional ranking at a ceremony in Tokyo.
Hsu, 23, received the title for winning the 59th Judan competition held in April. The competition, which is sponsored by Sankei Shimbun, has been held annually since 1962.
Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) attended the ceremony, and used the opportunity to thank Japan for donating 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan.
Hsieh said Hsu’s win also demonstrated how the game of go could bring Taiwanese and Japanese even closer