Belgian Go Federation

Three rounds down, the final matches approaching, and the championship is still wide open!

The 2026 Belgian Interclub Championship is entering its decisive phase, with defending champion Gents Go Genootschap (GGG) leading the standings on 7 points.

But the race is far from over! Antwerp remains unbeaten after three consecutive victories, Hoshi is building momentum, and the remaining encounters could still shake up the leaderboard.

GGG Chasing Back-to-Back Titles

GGG has enjoyed a strong campaign, securing two convincing 3–0 victories against Phénix and Leuven. Their only setback came against Antwerp, who handed them a 2–1 defeat in Round 2.

With 7 points and 15 tie-break points, GGG currently leads the championship.

Two players have been particularly reliable: Maarten Marien and Kenny Debacq, both undefeated in their two games this season.

For Maarten, the winning streak goes even further. After losing his opening game in 2025, he won his remaining four matches to help GGG claim the title. Add two more victories in 2026, and he now stands at six consecutive Interclub wins!

His progress goes beyond the Interclub. Having steadily climbed from 6 kyu to 4 kyu, Maarten is showing consistent improvement, with his results on the board reflecting his growing strength.

GGG also has history to chase. Since 2023, the championship has changed hands every year, with Phénix winning in 2023, Antwerp in 2024, and GGG in 2025. A victory this season would make GGG the first team since Phénix in 2023 to successfully defend the title.

Antwerp: The Undefeated Challenger

Three matches. Three victories. Antwerp remains unbeaten!

Antwerp has been remarkably consistent this season, winning all three of its encounters by identical 2–1 scores, including an important victory over defending champion GGG.

With 6 points from three matches, the 2024 champions sit second, just one point behind GGG. Despite trailing in the standings, Antwerp remains the only team with a perfect match record.

One of their key players is Tom Van Den Broeck, who has built an impressive Interclub record. After winning all six of his games across the 2023 and 2024 editions, Tom has now collected 11 individual victories since 2023, making him the player with the most individual wins since the competition began keeping individual results.

His first defeat this season came against Leonard Brand in Round 3, but with two victories from three games, Tom remains an important contributor to Antwerp's title ambitions.

Undefeated but still chasing the leaders, Antwerp remains a serious contender for the 2026 championship!

Hoshi: The Comeback Team

After an opening defeat against Antwerp, Hoshi bounced back with consecutive 2–1 victories against Leuven and Phénix.

Now third with 5 points and 13 tie-break points, Hoshi remains firmly in the title race.

Among its standout players is Yannick Kuy, whose Interclub history speaks for itself. Yannick went undefeated in both 2023 and 2024, winning all seven of his games across those two seasons.

His remarkable streak ended in 2025, but he returned to winning ways in the opening round of 2026.

And with a final showdown against GGG on 2 December, Hoshi could still have a major say in who takes home the trophy!

Phénix and Leuven Look to Finish Strong

For Phénix, the 2026 campaign has been a difficult one. The former champions, who claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, have lost all three encounters so far.

Their final match against Leuven on 3 November offers one last opportunity to finish the season on a positive note.

Leuven, meanwhile, still has one match remaining against Phénix. Although currently at the bottom of the standings, Leuven could still play an important role in deciding the final positions.

Current Standings

#	Team	Played	Points	Tie-break
1	GGG	3	7	15
2	Antwerp	3	6	10
3	Hoshi	3	5	13
4	Phénix	3	2	3
5	Leuven	2	1	1

Each individual board victory earns one point. Tie-break points are weighted by board: 3 for Board 1, 2 for Board 2, and 1 for Board 3.

GGG has the lead and a six-game winning streak from Maarten Marien. Antwerp has the perfect team record and the competition's all-time individual wins leader in Tom Van Den Broeck. Hoshi has the momentum and a chance to challenge the defending champions directly.

Three teams in the title race. Two matches remaining. Everything still to play for!

Who will be crowned the 2026 Belgian Interclub Champion?