The European Go Federation (EGF) is a non-profit organization with the purpose of encouraging, regulating, co-ordinating, and disseminating the playing of the

board game Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well. Many board games feature a co ...

Go in Europe. The EGF was founded in 1957, the same year that the inaugural European Go Congress (EGC) took place in

Cuxhaven Cuxhaven (; ) is an independent town and seat of the Cuxhaven district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town includes the northernmost point of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the shore of the North Sea at the mouth of the Elbe River. Cuxhaven ...

, Germany. The Congress has been an annual event every year since then, held each time in a different European city. The

European Go Championship The European Go Championship or Congress (EGC) is the annual and main event of many organised by the European Go Federation for players of the board game Go. It consists of a 2-week open competition, one round per day, making a total of 10 rounds ...

takes place during the EGC, as well as the Annual General Meeting (AGM). In 2014, the European Professional System was established by the European Go Federation. Membership is open to any Go-organising association in a country in or near Europe. There are currently 35 full members, and two suspended members.

Function

The EGF elects an Executive Committee which supervises a number of commissions in charge of normal activities in between the AGMs. Major European tournaments do not fall under the Executive Committee's supervision, but are directly co-ordinated by the EGF itself. Major events organised by the EGF include the European Grand Prix; the Pandanet European Team Championship; European Youth Go Championships in three age categories; the European Youth Team Championship; the

European Pair Go Championship The European Pair Go Championship (EPGC) is a European international tournament for amateur Go players under the Pair Go rule, held once a year since 1997. History The first European Pair Go Championship was held in 1997. Past champions See al ...

, the European Women's Championship; the European Student Championship and the European Championship, held during the annual European Go Congress. An official Rating List is maintained by processing the results of as many European tournaments as possible. The European Go Federation is a member of the

International Go Federation The International Go Federation (IGF) is an international organization that connects the various national Go federations around the world. Role The role of the IGF is to promote the sport of Go throughout the world, promote amicable relations ...

Members

Note: On the 3rd March 2022, the EGF decided during an emergency general meeting to suspend indefinitely both the Russian and Belorussian Associations due to the

2022 Invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

by Russia. All planned or future events organised by the EGF were cancelled and players from both countries were banned from representing their nations at European events. The first major event affected was the 2022

European Youth Go Championship The European Youth Go Championship (EYGC) is a championship for young players of the board game of Go. It is held annually, and first started in Băile Felix, Romania in 1996. Some winners of the various age groups, such as Diána Kőszegi, have ...

held between the 10th and 12th March in Czechia.

EGF Professional players

The EGF established a professional system in 2014 with Chinese sponsorship. Top European players are invited to take part in a Qualification Tournament, with one or two of the most successful competitors being awarded professional status. Professionals can then be promoted by earning points from wins against other professional players in major tournaments. As of 2021, there are eight such players, who enjoy benefits including automatic qualification to the Grand Slam and the opportunity to represent Europe in major international tournaments.

Current title holders

Below is a summary of the current holders or most recent winners of the major EGF-organised events.

References

External links