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What happens in the brain of a Go player when they make a mistake?
Go is one of the most complex strategy games in the world: a single move can decide the outcome of an entire game. But what goes on inside a player's mind during those critical moments? How does the brain process errors, pressure, and high-stakes decisions in real time?
This is exactly what "Play with Brain" sets out to explore.
From April 18 to 23, international professional and amateurs Go players will compete in a set of serious games in Jena, Germany, while their brain activity, heart rate, and muscle tension will be monitored simultaneously.
The result: a unique window into the neuroscience of expert decision-making, live and in action.
The matches will be broadcast and reviewed live on Twitch!
You'll find below the key informations.
Follow on Twitch
The Team
The project brings together researchers and the Go community.The scientific side is led by Prof. Ilona Croy and her postdoc Tim, supported by two student assistants who handle the technical setup.
From the Go community: Manja Marz (project coordination and co-lead of the experiment), Jörg Sonnenberger (boards), and Tom Eulenfeld (data analysis).
A live commentary team — one Go player paired with a psychologist — will provide real-time insight during the livestream.
The Players
Several professional and amateur players will join the experiment. 4 men and 4 women.
Ali Jabarin 3p
Ali is a top EGF pro.
Andrii Kravets 3p
Andrii is the current European pro Champion.
Valerii Krushelnytskyi 7d
Top amateur, runner-up of the European Championship 2025.
Lukas Podpera 7d
Lukas is a top amateur, Czech Champion.
Akira Fukushima-Maekawa 5d
Among the top women players in Germany. She's also a Go influencer.
Manja Marz 4d
Winner of the Senko Cup 2026, among Europe's strongest women.
Maike Wilms 3d
Maike has been German Women's Champion.
Barbara Knauf 3d
Barbara has been German Women's Champion.
The Setup & Games
Each player is equipped with a sensor cap containing 32 electrodes that wirelessly sync with the Go boards, capturing brain activity throughout the game. Additionally, players wear an ECG monitor (three sensors on the chest) and a muscle tension sensor on the shoulder. 
Setting everything up takes about 60 minutes, so players arrive one hour before their game begins.
Two games take place each day — one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Each game uses a Fischer time setting of 45 minutes + 15 seconds, qualifying the event as an EGD A-class tournament. Games are played one at a time, not in parallel.
After each game, the two players are separated and independently asked to review and comment on their game. This session is video recorded. Players also fill in a questionnaire.
Schedule
The schedule is like this:
Men – 18–20 April
Time slots in CEST
Women – 21–23 April
Time slots in CEST
How to follow?
The games are planned to be streamed live on Twitch. A Go player and a psychologist will comment together — the psychologist reacting to the live brain data in real time, offering insights into a player's emotional state, focus, or fatigue, even without knowledge of Go.Follow on Twitch
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