The 22nd European Go Congress

City University, Paris, France, 22.07.1978-05.08.1978

The 22nd European Go Congress was held in the Maison d'Allemagne and the Maison du Japon, two buildings in the City University. The organising committee also managed to provide accommodation for all participants within the premises.

The right mood was immediately present, many were happy to meet their Go friends again. At the opening ceremony the president of the Paris Go Club, T. Lamarzelle, announced some nice surprises: as representative of the Nihon Ki-in, Iwamoto Kaoru (9p) was present. Also the organisation committee had managed to invite a delegation of the strongest Chinese Go players: Nie Weiping, Shen Guo Sum and Chen Zude. After some more speeches the first public demonstration game was played between Nie and the stimulator of Parisien Go, Maitre Lim (5d). Lim played black with three stones handicap, Nie won. The last surprise had a typically French taste: champagne for everybody.

About the organisation, nothing but praise. Like at every Congress, there are always some disturbances, but the flexibility of the Organisation was impressive. What would you expect else from experienced Go players as organisation: with a bit of improvisation you can settle everything. A good example was the closing ceremony. Planned was the prize giving and a closing speech by Schilp, president of the European Go Federation, but one hour before, Manfred Wimmer, Europe's first professional Go player announced that he would play a demonstration game against Nie and Iwamoto played European Champion Helmut Hasibeder.

Championship Group

The tournament for the European title was won by Hasibeder.
Max Rebattu finished second on with one loss against Hasibeder. 

                            Has Reb Mcf Sch Ise Hub Mou Bec Kip Cas  Pt
 1 Helmut Hasibeder  Ger 5d   X   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   9  
 2 Max Rebattu       Nld 5d   0   X   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   8  
 3 Matthew Macfadyen Gbr 5d   0   0   X   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   7  
 4 Ronald Schlemper  Nld 4d   0   0   0   X   1   1   0   1   1   1   5  
 5 Wolfgang Isele    Ger 5d   0   0   0   0   X   1   1   1   0   1   4  
 6 Jerome Hubert     Fra 4d   0   0   0   0   0   X   1   1   1   1   4  
 7 Andre Moussa      Fra 4d   0   0   0   1   0   0   X   =   0   1   2.5
 8 Gerfried Beck     Aut 4d   0   0   0   0   0   0   =   X   1   1   2.5
 9 Horst Kippe       Ger 4d   0   0   0   0   1   0   1   0   X   0   2  
10 Brian Castledine  Gbr 4d   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   X   1

Main Tournament

Ron Snyder from America was victorious in The Main Tournament.

  1. Ron Snyder (USA, 3d)
  2. Tokudome (Jap, 5d)
  3. Rob Koopman (Nld, 2d)
  4. Robert Rehm (Nld, 4d)
  5. Stuart Dowsey (Gbr, 3d)

Other Events

The Handicap Tournament, open for everybody, was won by Nie Weiping (Chn, 9p), who in a friendly way, blow away his opponents.
Many players came over just for the Weekend Tournament.
The two lightning Tournaments were both won by Ronald Schlemper.
The Rengo Tournament caused quite some hilarity, which didn't mean that people weren't playing seriously.
The 'traditional' last goodbye evening was cheered up with many Go songs.

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