Belgian Go Federation

The final round of the regular season delivered exactly the kind of tension expected from a relegation battle.

Heading into Round 9, four teams at the bottom of the standings were around the five match points, meaning the pressure was fully on. In the worst-case scenario, Belgium would still have needed to play relegation playoffs to remain in League B.

Standing in the way was Croatia, another team sitting on five points. Belgium’s final lineup featured Lucas, Lucman, Renaud, and Guillaume.

Croatia Strikes First

Boards 2, 3, and 4 were played on Monday evening.

On Board 2, Lucman took Black against Matej Zakanj (5 dan). Early in the middle game, Lucman successfully isolated a weak white group and applied heavy pressure. White defended resourcefully by targeting weaknesses in Black’s shape to keep the game balanced. The turning point came after a complex fight in the center, where Lucman ultimately lost a key group and was forced to resign.

Croatia moved ahead 1–0.

Renaud Answers Back

Belgium responded immediately on Board 3, where Renaud, playing White, faced Tadej Petar Tukara (3 dan), a strong player from the Yunguseng A League who had already defeated Lucas earlier in the season.

Renaud came prepared with a fresh variation in a common joseki, introducing an important hane that caught his opponent off guard. The preparation paid off instantly, giving Renaud an early lead.

Black later built a massive central moyo and managed to regain control after a difficult ko fight, taking a double-digit advantage. But Renaud stayed calm under pressure. On move 186, he found an accurate reduction sequence that stabilized his shape, reduced Black’s territory just enough, and swung the game back in his favor. From there, he never let go of the lead.

The match was level again at 1–1.

Croatia Takes the Lead Again

On Board 4, Guillaume fought hard against Teo Sladetić (2 dan), but Croatia secured another victory to move ahead 2–1 overall.

Everything would now come down to the final board.

Lucas Jinseo Delivers in the Decisive Game

The decisive match took place the following day, with Lucas playing White against Stjepan Medak (5 dan).

The opening quickly became tense, featuring an important ko fight. In an attempt to create additional ko threats, Black lost points in several areas, allowing Lucas to build an early lead of around eight points. Stjepan remained composed, however, and gradually turned the position around with steady play, eventually taking a small advantage.

Then came the turning point.

In a brilliant tactical sequence, Lucas used stones that appeared dead inside Black’s territory to launch a massive cutting sequence. With the game already deep into the endgame, Black could no longer save the central dragon and was forced to resign.

Belgium tied the match 2–2 and secured the crucial match point needed in the standings.

League B Status Secured

When the final standings were confirmed, Belgium finished 7th in League B, safely avoiding relegation and securing another season in the division.

After a season filled with close battles and pressure-packed matches, the team successfully achieved its goal.

A huge thank you goes to all the players for their commitment and fighting spirit throughout the season.

Links

Games: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/rounds/1353#2

Standings: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/draw/215

The next open tournament in Belgium will be the Leuven Tournament on 30 and 31 May.

You can register by filling this form and see who has already registered here. All levels are encouraged to participate.

The tournament will be played in 5 rounds of 60 minutes + 20 stones in 5 minutes Canadian byo-yomi.

More info here: https://www.gofed.be/node/1556

The Hoshi Go Club Tournament returned this weekend with a major milestone, doubling in size from 14 to 27 participants and marking a successful new edition of the event.

The level of competition was high throughout the tournament, with several strong dan-level players in the field. After four intense rounds, 15 years old Gao Yuanze (5 Dan) emerged on top, finishing undefeated with a perfect 4–0 record to claim first place.

Yannick Kuy followed in second place with three wins, while Zhao Ziang completed the podium in third.

Among the notable performances, Joachim Laloux continued to impress. The young and rising player secured 6th place and is now closing in on the 1 kyu level in the official ratings.

Venue and Atmosphere

The tournament took place in Brussels near Place Flagey, offering a spacious and welcoming setting. With its four-round format, players had time not only to compete but also to review games, exchange ideas, and enjoy the social side of the event.

With its strong turnout, competitive games, and great atmosphere, this edition confirmed the Hoshi Go Club Tournament as a growing success on the Belgian Go calendar.

Results

Standings: https://hoshigoclub.be/tournoi.html#results

Belgium heads into the final round of the season with its fate still in its own hands.

Despite winning just one of the four games in the previous round, the result was enough to keep Belgium in a strong position in the standings. The team currently sits in 7th place with 5 points, keeping direct survival in League B well within reach.

With only one match remaining, Belgium now has a real chance to avoid the playoffs and secure its place for next season.

The Final Challenge

The final challenge comes against Croatia, who also have 5 points and currently sit in 9th place. With both teams level on points, this matchup is set to be one of the most decisive of the season.

A draw — and certainly a win — would most likely be enough for Belgium to remain in League B next year, adding extra importance to the encounter.

Match Schedule

The round is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 May 20h CET (or the week before).

Final Push

After a season full of tight battles, Belgium now has one final opportunity to finish the job.

One more push. One more match. Let’s finish strong.

Links

Games: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/rounds/1352

Standings: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/draw/215

This year the Ghent Go Tournament will be a one day - 4 rounds Tournament. It will take place on the first Saturday of Juli (4/7/2026).

You can register here.

Tournament set-up

System: 4 rounds MacMahon
Time limit: 30 min
Byo-yomi: 5*20 sec Japanese
Rules: Japanese
Komi: 6,5
Handicap: H-2

More info

Belgium closed out Round 7 of the Pandanet online team championship this week with a hard-fought matchup against Austria, delivering drama across multiple boards before settling for a draw.

The Belgian lineup featured Lucas, Lucman, Jan and Guillaume. The first three boards were played on Friday, March 13, while the remaining game was scheduled for Tuesday, March 17.

Strong Start on the Top Boards

On Board 1, Lucas, playing Black, faced Viktor Lin (6 dan). He opted for a modern extra wide pincer variation leading to a dynamic opening. Lucas quickly took control by executing two successful invasions on the left side, gaining an early lead. Despite his opponent building a strong central wall, Lucas’ prior stones in the area neutralized the threat, and he maintained control to secure the win.

On Board 3, Jan, also playing Black, took on Jannis Adamek (1 kyu). Known for his solid style, Jan opened with classic joseki before shifting gears in the middle game. Move 61 proved decisive, creating a powerful double threat. After isolating stones in the south, Jan built a clear advantage. The game escalated into intense fighting, but once a key group was captured, the result was sealed — Jan won by resignation on move 147.

A Tough Battle on Board 4

On Board 4, Guillaume, playing White against Len Recheis (2 Kyu), fought hard but ultimately came up short.

After the first day of play, Belgium held a 2–1 lead, putting them in a strong position heading into the final board.

Decisive Game Ends in Forfeit

The final match, scheduled for Tuesday, could not be completed due to technical issues and was ultimately forfeited. This result brought the overall score to a 2–2 draw between Belgium and Austria.

Looking Ahead

With this result, Belgium is now part of a four-way tie at five wins. Attention now turns to the next round against the Netherlands, a formidable team whose Boards 2, 3, and 4 remain undefeated this season and currently top the standings.

The upcoming clash is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, or possibly the week prior — setting the stage for a crucial showdown in the race for the top.

Links

Standings: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/draw/215

The next tournament in Belgium will be the Hoshi Go Club Tournament on 18 and 19 April.

You can register by filling this form and see who has already registered here. All levels are encouraged to participate.

The tournament will be played in 4 rounds of 60 minutes + 5x20 seconds of byo-yomi from 11 AM to 6 PM in the same venue as last year near the Flagey place.

The venue has a beautiful terrace where you will be able to review games with Christopher Annachachibi (aka HisokaH, 2d) if the weather is good.

More info here: https://www.hoshigoclub.be/tournoi.html

The 2026 Belgian Go Championship preliminaries wrapped up today, closing an exciting stage of competition and setting the field for the next round.

This year’s edition felt special. Many players who had already secured their place in the finals came to watch the games in person, comment on the matches, and follow the action closely. Thanks to this, everyone could enjoy the live commentary on Twitch, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

One of the biggest storylines of the tournament was the return of François Gonze (4 Dan). Making a strong comeback, he dominated the field and claimed the preliminary championship in perfect fashion. Over five rounds, he delivered a flawless performance, finishing the tournament undefeated with five wins out of five.

Another key moment came in round four, where Philippe Tranchida faced Joachim Laloux in a decisive match, Joachim Laloux, the young and rising 3-kyu player, stepped up under pressure and secured the victory, confirming his growing presence among Belgium’s promising Go talents.

Final Results

Next Stage

The top four players from the preliminaries will now advance to the final stage of the championship. There, they will join Kevin, Jan, Lucman and Yannick, who were already qualified.

The final stage of the 2026 Belgian Go Championship will take place on 16–17 May, where the country’s strongest players will battle it out for the national title.

Links

All Twitch comments: https://www.twitch.tv/belgiangofederation

LAST BREAKING NEWS: the games played on Sunday will be commented live by Yannick KUY (2-d) on https://www.twitch.tv/belgiangofederation