EGF Championships and Top Events

This page contains a list of the championships and top events held in Europe, a short description of the event, the sponsor and whether the event is open for bids from EGF member countries interested in organising. EGF countries should please submit bids for future events to the EGF Secretary. For purposes of European nationality, nationals of all EGF member countries are eligible. Unless rules are otherwise specified the EGF Tournament Rules will be used.

There is also a description of the systems used in Obsolete Events.

European Go Congress

The European Go Congress (EGC) moves from country to country. Usually the location is decided two years ahead. The Congress lasts for a fortnight in July and August each year. Between 300 and 1000 people usually take part, depending on location and cost. There is currently no regular major sponsor.

A key event of the EGC is the European Championship. This is contested by 32 top European players, alongside the Open event, using the European Championship System.

There are other events, such as the Weekend Tournament, Lightning, Pair Go and Team events, held during the fortnight and also teaching by professionals and the EGF's Annual Meeting.

The EC is open only to European nationals, but the EGC is welcoming a broad range of foreigners from the overseas as well.

Guidelines for the European Go Congress

  • The Congress lasts for 15 days from a Saturday in July to a Saturday in August. The first day is mainly the registration day.
  • For all Go tournaments, by default the EGF General Tournament Rules and the EGF Tournament System Rules apply.
  • The Congress also includes the Weekend Tournament and the Pair Go Tournament, and side events such as the following tournaments: Rengo, 13x13, 9x9, Team and Lightning with 10 minutes per player. A Congress may also include a rapid with 30 minutes per player, and Computer Go.
  • In addition the EGF may request that particular events are held during the Congress, for instance the Pandanet Go European Team Championship Finals.
  • The Weekend Tournament may have, and possibly should have, a supergroup. Its thinking time must be enough to count towards the EGF ratings as A-class. Only players 3 dan or weaker may miss any rounds. Handicaps, if any, may only be used below 15 kyu.
  • An appeals committee is formed and is used for all Go tournaments including side tournaments.

European Grand Prix

The European Grand Prix is a series of go tournaments that takes place from 1 January until 31 December each year. Go players (nationals from an EGF member country) who participate in the Grand Prix can collect so-called “bonus points” by scoring a podium finish in any of these tournaments. At the beginning of the following year, the bonus points are counted and the Grand Prix Final is organized, for which the 16 most successful participants are invited. Any player that has won one of the Grand Prix events automatically qualifies for the Final.

Pandanet Go European Team Championship

This online league started in late 2010 and replaced the single team tournament. The online qualifying leagues are played on Pandanet and the top four teams from A League play over-the-board finals at the European Go Congress. Full Information

European Youth Go Championships

The event is split into under-21 (U21), under-16 (U16), and under-12 (U12) age categories.

Eligibility of players

All players must be citizens of an EGF-member country. The proof (either a passport or another government-issued personal identity document clearly stating the citizenship and the date of birth) must be presented to the organizer during the final on-site registration. A player must be younger than 12, 16 or 21 respectively on 1st January of the corresponding year.

Tournament system

Tournaments are usually run as McMahon draws with 6 rounds (two rounds per day), with a bar placed suitably to select 16 players in the Super Group if it is reasonably possible. In general, all dan players should enter the Super Group, but the Super Group cannot be larger than 24 players. The Super Group starts the tournament with McMahon Score (MMS) +2. The Top Group consists of 8 players below the Super Group if it is reasonably possible. The Top Group starts the tournament with McMahon Score (MMS) +1. The players in the Super Group must play all games.

The Super Group is seeded by rating for the first two rounds with a "split and slip" way of pairings (in case of 16 players: 1-9, 10-2, 3-11 ...16-8). Players should have previously obtained a European rating to be included in the Super/Top group. The result table is sorted by McMahon score/total points, SOS, SOSOS/SODOS, mutual game.

In a rare case that the number of registered players is too small, Swiss or Round Robin system can be used.

Date of the EYGC

The EYGC is usually held in March.

Tournament rewards

TThe EYGC is a qualification tournament especially for invited World tournaments, according to the conditions of these tournaments. The EGF can also contribute its own prizes if it is possible and appropriate. Also, other sponsorship of third parties is possible, based on a mutual agreement with the EGF.

Detailed information about the qualification criteria in this document.

EGF Youth Teams Cup (New)

The European Go Federation Youth Teams Cup is a new live team tournament played immediately after the European Youth Go Championships. Teams are national teams consisting of three players and optionally one reserve player. Matches are played live on three boards with players aged 18 or younger. More information in this document.

Pandanet European Youth Go Team Championship

This event has evolved since 2014 and is for country national teams. Matches are played on five boards on Pandanet IGS.
More Information.

European Pair Go Championship

This event for male-female pairs is supported by the Japanese Pair Go Association and Pandanet. Players earn European Pair Go Points for their country towards the International Amateur Pair Go Championships, usually held in November in Japan.
The best Amateur pair can qualify to the IAPGC and will be able to pretend to an EGF subsidy of up to 600€ per player for travelling expenses. The EPGC event is usually held in March or April.
There are six rounds, with time limits of 25 minutes (Fischer time) and 10 seconds per move (additional time). Komi is 6.5 points. Pairs must be nationals of the same European country.
The event is normally run using the Swiss system with cross pairings. If many lower-level pairs join the championship, the organisers may adapt the system after consulting the EGF Tournament Commission.

Games are broadcast live on Pandanet whenever possible.

European Women's Go Championship

A yearly event for European women players (nationals from the country they represent). The championship serves as a qualifier for womens' world go events such as the amateurs SENKO CUP (Japan, amateurs only from different countries, often 3 seats) usually held in March, or Wu Qingyuan Cup (China, pro/amateur, 1 seat), usually held in autumn.

European Student Go Championship

This event is held in early Autumn. Only full time students at university or college, nationals from the country they represent, aged below 29 years of age and 16 or over on 1st August, may play. The event serves as a qualifier for the World Student Oza Championship in Tokyo (amateurs, different countries, usually 2 men 1 woman) and partly to other Student events when such occure (Collegiate Championship, Student Pair Go...).