Murakawa Daisuke, who was born near Osaka, made professional shodan with the Kansai Kiin at age 11. He has been a frequent member of the Japanese team at the International New Stars tournament, where he has played alongside such current … Continue reading
Though not a title winner in Japan, Mukai Chiaki has challenged for women’s titles six times, and was promoted this year to 5 dan. She has frequently represented Japan in international competition, and has done well in team and pair … Continue reading
Natalia Kovaleva began competing in tournaments in the far east in 2004, when she and Alexei Lazarev won three games at the International Amateur Pair Go Championship in Tokyo. A high point in her career so far came at the … Continue reading
Three-time European champion Ilya Shikshin comes from a go-playing family that includes his sister Svetlana, who has played professionally in Korea. A short English-language biography of Ilya can be found on Svetlana’s website. At the World Mind Games he lost … Continue reading
Ranka interviewed the Hungarian pair, Rita Pocsai and Csaba Mero, after their loss to the Chinese pair in the first round of the pair-go competition at the World Mind Games. Ranka: Please tell us how you began playing go. Pocsai: … Continue reading
During the gold medal individual matches, Ranka had a chance to speak with European women’s champion Vanessa Wong. Ranka: Where were you born, and when did you move to Great Britain? Wong: I was born in Hong Kong, but when … Continue reading
Su Sheng-fang, the 16-year-old pro from Chinese Taipei, was one of the eight unseeded players in the women’s division. She came to the World Mind Games with her mother, who lent moral support during the following interview with Ranka. Ranka: … Continue reading
Only one game took place in the playing room at the Beijing International Convention Center on the morning of December 16. Sun Naijing, winner of the Pandanet-SportAccord Online Go Tournament and official guest at the World Mind Games, took on … Continue reading
Ranka interviewed Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chi-han just after his victory over China’s Chen Yaoye. Ranka: Congratulations on your win and forthcoming medal. Lin: Thanks. Ranka: Please tell us something about your career. Lin: I was born in Taipei. I started … Continue reading
Canada’s Bill (Tianyu) Lin was one of the first four players to be eliminated, losing to China’s Jiang Weijie in round 1 and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-yen in round 2. He then became the first player to give Ranka an … Continue reading