Hello Go Enthusiasts,

We are thrilled to announce that the Austin Go Tournament 2025 is set for April—and this year, it's bigger and better than ever!

Mark your calendars and get ready to battle it out in an action-packed tournament featuring a host of exciting updates:

New Divisions:

• TWO OPEN DIVISIONS!! Thanks to your feedback and popular demand, this year we will increase the number of open divisions to two, giving more higher rank players the chance to play even games (see rules for more info). The more high skilled players that join this year, the better the experience!
• 1-2 Handicap Divisions to keep games challenging. even between players of higher rank differences.
• (New!) Beginner Division—perfect for newcomers with a FREE entry fee! This division is a fantastic way to dip your toe into the competitive scene within a friendly, welcoming environment. Just be sure to sign up for an AGA account beforehand!

Prizes

• Open Division 1

  • $200 for the 1st place
  • $100 for the 2nd place
  • $50 for the 3rd place

• Challenge Coins for top 3 winners in all divisions:

  • A Gold coin for 1st place
  • A Silver coin for 2nd place
  • A Copper coin for 3rd place

They will look like this but in different colors:

Raffles Prizes

• Top prize: Mini go board set
• Second prize: Blank handfan from Nihon Kiin (x4)
• Third prize: Joseki Poker from Nihon Kiin (x4)
• Forth prize: Go pen from Nihon Kiin (x4)

Exclusive Sponsor Perk:

• This year we have HJJ GO as a sponsor, who is generously offering every single participant access to their online Go course, tailored to your level (over $100 value!). This will help you elevate your game even further 👏
• This also includes beginners, so even more reason to jump into the scene!

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting your Go journey, there's a place for you at this year's tournament. Gather your friends, polish your strategies, and get ready for an unforgettable experience full of challenging games, fantastic prizes, and great community spirit.

We can't wait to see you at the board!

We will have a five-round tournament with the following divisions and their estimated division lines:

• Open Division 1 (1d+)
• Open Division 2 (1k - 7k)
• Handicap Division 1 (8k - 15k, may be divided into an additional division, depending on player count)
• Beginner Division (16k+)

Note that the above rank divisions are estimates, and this is an experiment:

• The actual ranks used to divide may vary depending on actual player attendance.
• We may revert back to "normal" if SDKs collectively choose handicap instead! (You can choose your division preference during registration).

In any case, all strengths are welcome to participate 🤗

Point System: AGA Rules

• 7.5 Komi for even games
• "Pass stone" rule
• More details here

Time Settings: Fischer time

• 30 minutes base time
• 12 seconds per move

Schedule: (Times are approximate)

• Saturday, April 26
  • 9am • Checkin
  • 10am • Round 1
  • 1pm • Round 2
  • 3pm • Round 3
• Sunday, April 27
  • 10am • Round 4
  • 1pm • Round 5
  • 3pm • Awards Ceremony

Registration:

• $30 Entry Fee

Open Division

• 1st: Troy Zhao - 5 wins
• 2nd: Rouyu Bai - 3 wins
• 3rd: Ethan Whitman - 2 wins, tiebreaker

Handicap Division 1

• 1st: Chih-Yuan Huang - 4 wins
• 2nd: Zhaorong Ma - 3 wins, close tiebreaker
• 3rd: Billy Maier - 3 wins, close tiebreaker

Handicap Division 2

• 1st: Jason Miller - 3 wins, tiebreaker
• 2nd: Jim Sandy - 3 wins, very close tiebreaker
• 3rd: Jay Warrick - 3 wins, close tiebreaker

Handicap Division 3

• 1st: Brian Chen - 5 wins
• 2nd: Carl Freeman - 4 wins
• 3rd: Gavin Burkholder - 3 wins

We had a five-round tournament with Open and Handicap divisions.

All strengths were welcome to participate.

Point System: AGA Rules

• 7.5 Komi for even games
• "Pass stone" rule
• More details here

Time Settings: Fischer time

• 20 minutes base time
• 15 seconds per move

Schedule: (Times are approximate)

• Saturday, April 13
  • 9am • Checkin
  • 10am • Round 1
  • 1pm • Round 2
  • 3pm • Round 3
• Sunday, April 14
  • 10am • Round 4
  • 1pm • Round 5
  • 3pm • Awards Ceremony

Registration:

• $30 Entry Fee