[Newsletter] BGA Newsletter 336 March 2026

[Jil Segerman]

FROM THE EDITOR

This issue, and previous newsletters, will be found in the Newsletter
Archive <https://britgo.org/newsletter> in the Members' Area
<https://britgo.org/membersonlyaccess>. In Newsletters after August 2025
the images have clickable links for viewing them full size. Full-size
images from earlier Newsletters may be found via the BGA All News pages
<https://britgo.org/allnews>.

Contributions are always welcome, both from our members and others. We ask
that they be Go-related and "newsy". The place for debate and general
discussion is the BGA open mailing list Gotalk. However, an introduction to
a new topic is fine in the Newsletter. A brief introduction to Gotalk, with
a link for joining, is on the BGA page Go on the Internet
<https://britgo.org/gopcres/info#mail>.

*Instructions for Contributors:* Please use plain text not
file-attachments. Keep it fairly brief, and give web-links and contact
details. It's good to include pictures. If they are on the internet, send
me the URL, otherwise attach the picture files to your email. Send your
contribution to newsletter at britgo.org to arrive by the first day of the
month.

Jil Segerman
NEWSPandanet - Croatia

In the sixth match of the 2025–2026 B-League season the UK team played
leaders Croatia. Jun Sun won on board one, but Jake Game, Ryan Zhang and
Mark Elliot lost. Sweden drew with Switzerland pushing UK down to fourth
position.

Further information here <https://britgo.org/events/euroteams2025>.
Youth Team

The youth team played Ukraine in the second round of the Pandanet Youth
Teams but lost 1-4. Andrew Volovich was our only winner. Unfortunately in
the third round they lost to Germany 0-5 and slipped to bottom place in the
A-League.

Further information here <https://britgo.org/junior/pandanet>.
BGA Tournament Winners

Full results here <https://britgo.org/results/12months>.
*London Youth* - Ryan Zhang
*Coventry* - Xi Wu
*Leinster* - Dewei Liu
*Cheshire*- Yifan Bao
Chris Kirkham

Members will be saddened to hear that Chris Kirkham, who had been battling
cancer for many months, has passed away.

Chris has been playing Go in Manchester for over 50 years, reaching 1 kyu
in the 1990's. He was BGA Membership Secretary for 8 years from 2017, and
ran the 'Northern' tournament for many years.

He will be sorely missed in the UK Go scene, especially in the North-West
and at nationwide tournaments.

As well as playing Go, he was also a very keen orienteer.
ADMINAnnual General Meeting

The 2026 AGM of the BGA will be held online via ZOOM on the evening of
Thursday May 28th.

This year Sebastian Pountney is standing down as Secretary, and Sam Bithell
is also standing down as a Director, so as always we welcome applications
to join the Board.

Key dates for the AGM are:
* Nominations for Officers and Directors must be received by April 16th
* Any motions (resolutions) that members want to submit must be received by
April 16th
* The agenda will be issued by April 30th
* Any amendments to ordinary resolutions must be received by May 24th
* Proxy votes must be registered by May 27th

Full details of the above are in the company articles, which are linked from
 this page. <https://www.britgo.org/articles>
British Go Congress, Friday 10th–Sunday 12th April

Entries have opened <https://britgo.org/tournaments#congress> for the 2026
British Go Congress, to be held at Stephen Perse Foundation (Senior
School), Union Rd, Cambridge CB2 1HF.

As usual this event will begin with the British Lightning Championship on
Friday evening, followed by the British Open Championship on Saturday to
Sunday (6-round Mcmahon, Class A rated with Fischer time 45 minutes + 15
seconds).
Osaka Go Camp, July 5th to 18th, Japan

<https://images.clubexpress.com/454497/graphics/2026.02.25-Maeda_20620134_1042431538.jpeg>Professional
player Ryo Maeda 6p of the Kansai Ki-in will host the 11th annual Osaka Go
Camp, offering international players two weeks of intensive instruction,
competitive play, and cultural exchange.

Each morning, participants compete in league games, followed by afternoon
teaching programs led by professional players. Instruction is conducted in
English, making the camp accessible to international attendees.

In addition to Go training, the camp includes cultural activities and
excursions. Planned trips include visits to downtown Osaka and Kyoto, as
well as a two-day trip to Hiroshima featuring a visit to the Honinbo
Shusaku Memorial Museum, a friendship tournament with local players, and
sightseeing.

The Osaka Go Camp has become a recurring opportunity for players from
around the world to study Go in Japan while experiencing its cultural
roots. More information is available at the camp website.
<http://osakago.com/>
Hanami Festival of Japanese Culture

<https://brogdalecollections.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_0290-710x480.jpg>

To be held in Faversham, Kent, on the weekend of 11-12th April. It's
apparently expected to get about two thousand visitors, who will meet at
Brogdale Farm slightly out of town to admire the cherry blossoms.

The organiser of the event has reached out to the BGA to see whether anyone
could put on a Go promotion stand. It is the weekend of the British
Congress, but if anyone might be able to help, please contact Sebastian
Pountney seb.pountney at gmail.com

Here's a pleasant video of the 2015 meet-up: https://youtu.be/0j9J_mBdGt4
EVENTS COMING SOON

*This Month:* Cambridge Trigantius, MSO GP 13x13, Online Lesson 3, European
Youth (Croatia)
*April* British Go Congress (Cambridge), Online Lesson 4
*May* Candidates (British Championship) and Aspirants, Sheffield
University, Not the London Open, Online Lesson 5, Welsh Open (Barmouth)
*June* Durham, Cambridge Youth, Online Lesson 6
*July* European Go Congress (Turkey)
*August* Mind Sports Olympiad (London)
*September* European Women (London)
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