The European Youth Go Championship (EYGC) 2025, held from March 6-9 at the historic Cazinoul Băilor Museum Center in Vatra Dornei, Romania, was more than just a tournament. It was a celebration of youth, strategy, and the rich tradition of Go. Hosting this prestigious event in Vatra Dornei — a small, picturesque town surrounded by the beautiful Carpathian Mountains — created a truly special atmosphere.

For four days, the Cazinoul Băilor became a hub of energy and concentration as over 100 young players from 13 countries gathered to test their skills, form new friendships, and share their passion for Go.

Organizing a tournament of this scale is never easy, but the positive feedback from players, parents, and coaches suggests that it was all worth the effort. We aimed to create an event where young players not only competed but also felt supported, inspired, and part of a larger Go community.

Creating the Perfect Playing Environment

A lot of thought went into the setup of the tournament to ensure the best possible playing experience. We prepared three dedicated playing halls to create the right atmosphere for each group of players:

• Super Group Hall – A separate and exclusive space where only super group players and referees are allowed. This ensured a quiet, focused environment for the most intense and high-level games.

• Main Hall – The central hub of the competition, where most of the matches in both U12 and U18 categories took place.

• Double-Digit Hall – A relaxed and more informal space for players with double-digit kyu ranks, where the atmosphere is a bit lighter but still competitive.

  

We also recognized the importance of downtime and relaxation between games. A special hanging-out area was set up to give participants a chance to unwind and socialize. This space included:

• A large screen where players could follow top games and reviews live.

• The SENSU robot, named GG by the local Go kids, provided interactive game sessions and drew a lot of attention from curious participants.

• Drawing supplies for the younger players to express their creativity.

• Review boards downstairs, where players could analyze games together and receive advice from more experienced players.

To elevate the learning experience, Tanguy Le Calve 1p and Elian Grigoriu 6D provided in-depth game reviews for the top boards in both the U12 and U18 categories. Their insights helped the young players understand complex positions and improve their strategies— a valuable experience that many of them will carry into future competitions.

We also gathered historical data and created an infographic showcasing the history of EYGC winners since the tournament’s inception. Additionally, we compiled some memorable moments into a photo collage, capturing the spirit and excitement of the championship.

Professional Live Broadcast of Top Games

For the first time at the EYGC, we provided live broadcasts of the top games using IZIS boards, ensuring exceptional visibility of the most important matches to the global Go community.

• In the U18 category, the top 4 boards were broadcasted live.

• In the U12 category, the top 2 boards were broadcasted live.

This allowed Go enthusiasts from around the world to follow the action in real time, analyze the games, and discuss key moments. The high-quality broadcast ensured that the strategic depth and technical skill on display were shared with a wider audience, helping to promote youth Go and raise the profile of European players.

Participation and the Evolution of Strength

The EYGC 2025 featured two age categories:

• U12

• U18

Unfortunately, after several last-minute cancellations, the total number of participants was reduced to 106 players from 13 countries. While this was lower than initially expected, the overall strength of the field remained very high, and the games were intense and closely fought.

While both age groups showed impressive strength, the evolution in the U12 category was particularly striking. The level of play among the youngest participants has grown remarkably in recent years, with several U12 players demonstrating the kind of positional understanding and strategic depth usually seen in older competitors. The games in this category were sharp and intense, reflecting the increasing strength of Europe's youngest generation of Go players.

The overall strength of European youth Go is clearly on the rise. Several players in the U12 category were able to challenge stronger opponents, and the competitive balance between the top players has never been closer. This bodes well for the future of Go in Europe, as these young players will undoubtedly continue to grow and make their mark on the international stage.

At the same time, it's worth noting that participation from some of the larger European Go federations was lower than expected. A few countries that have traditionally been powerhouses in youth Go were represented by only one or two players — or in some cases, none at all. While we understand that travel and scheduling challenges can sometimes affect participation, we hope that future editions of the EYGC will see broader and stronger representation from these federations. This is the biggest yearly youth Go event in Europe — a key moment for developing and inspiring the next generation of players — and we hope to see more national federations prioritize participation in the years to come.

Results and Awards

The competition was fierce, and the final standings reflected the high level of play:

U12 Winners:

1^st Place – €250 + Trophy: Bende Barcza 3d (HU)
2^nd Place – €150 + Trophy: Denys Lototskyi 3k (UA)
3^rd Place – €100 + Trophy: Ryan Zhang 3d (UK)

U18 Winners:

1^st Place – €250 + Trophy: Olesia Malko 4d (UA)
2^nd Place – €150 + Trophy: Robert Andrei Grosu 4d (RO)
3^rd Place – €100 + Trophy: Stjepan Medak 4d (HR)

Places 4-6 in Both U12 and U18:

• €50 each

The cash prizes for the first three places, were generously supported by the European Go Federation (EGF).

Special Prizes

To motivate consistent performance, we also offered special prizes based on the number of wins:

• €50 – for players who achieved 6 wins out of 6 rounds

• €20 – for players who achieved 5 wins

• €10 – for players who achieved 4 wins

Participation Awards

All participants received a participation diploma and a specially designed EYGC 2025 t-shirt as a memento of their experience in Vatra Dornei.

Side Tournaments

In addition to the main event, we also organized two side tournaments, which added to the overall excitement and engagement of the championship:

• Pair Go Tournament – This tournament attracted an impressive 40 participants, making it one of the largest Pair Go events held at a youth championship. The atmosphere was fun and lively, with mixed pairs from different countries playing together. The winners were awarded elegant trophies, and participants received small gifts, provided by the Japan Pair Go Association.

  Winners
  Category A:
  🥇 Maria Chernova & Antoni Bugaj – First place
  🥈 Lilly Hu & Stjepan Medak – Second place
  🥉 Cherry Hu & Roko Crvelin – Third place
  
  Category B:
  🥇 Bora Barcza & Csaba Kis Gado – First place
  🥈 Maria Sincari & Andrei Boiarinof – Second place
  🥉 Maia Peter & Denis Ghețu – Third place

• Open Tournament – This was designed for players over 18 years old who accompanied the young participants. It offered them the chance to compete and connect with other Go enthusiasts while the main event was underway.

Setting a New Standard

From the beginning, our goal was not only to organize a successful championship but to set a new standard for youth Go events in Europe. We wanted the EYGC 2025 to be more than just a tournament — a place where young players could feel valued, supported, and inspired to improve.

Since the EYGC is held in a different country each year, we don't expect to host the same event in Vatra Dornei next year. However, we hope that the experience players had here will make them eager to return for other events organized by us in the future.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the EYGC 2025 a success — the players, the coaches, the parents, the sponsors, the European Go Federation, the Romanian Go Federation, the referees and the volunteers. Together, we’ve shown that European youth Go is not only alive and well — it’s thriving.

As one of the young players said on the final day:
"I can’t wait to come back — maybe not for the EYGC, but definitely for another tournament!"

That’s exactly the kind of legacy we hoped to create.