Written by Makoto Moriwaki (Japan Pair Go Association)
The Pair Go World Festival 2025 was held over three days on 8–10 August 2025 at Expo Messe ‘Wasse’ at the venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. This report provides an overview of the three-day festival. More information can be found on the event webpage.
1. A Variety of Amateur International Tournaments
This year’s festival featured four international amateur tournaments, including the annual
International Amateur Pair Go Championship.
The 34th International Amateur Pair Go Championship
This tournament crowns the amateur world champions of Pair Go. The 34th edition attracted 32 pairs (64 players) from 17 countries and territories. After five intense rounds, the Chinese pair of Chen Si and Hu Yuqing emerged victorious with a perfect 5–0 record. Ms Chen also won the previous edition in 2023, making this a back-to-back championship victory.
Final Results
- Champion: Chen Si & Hu Yuqing (China)
- Runner-up: Seo Sukyeong & Kim Jung Seon (Korea)
- 3rd Place: Motoko Kaneko & Koya Sato (Japan)
The Matsuda Cup 9th World Student Pair Go Championship
This tournament, open to university, graduate, and high school students worldwide, determines the student world champions of Pair Go. It is named in honour of the late Masatake Matsuda, who served for many years as Chairperson of the Japan Pair Go Association. Sixteen pairs competed in four rounds, with the Chinese pair Li Qingyang & Li Jinpeng claiming victory. China also won the previous edition, achieving two consecutive titles.
Final Results
- Champion: Li Qingyang & Li Jinpeng (China)
- Runner-up: Yuina Nishio & Sachito Fukazawa (Japan)
- 3rd Place: Nanako Omiya & Seiya Ikarashi (Japan)
The World Junior Pair Go Championship U-15 (Supported by Hankyu Corporation)
While the Matsuda Cup is open to players aged 16 and above, this was the first-ever world tournament for players aged 15 and under, commemorating the special occasion of being held at the Expo. The inaugural title went to the Korean pair of Jung Jiyul and Choi Haekwon. It will be exciting to see how these young stars grow and shine on the Go stage – both amateur and professional – in the years to come.
Final Results
- Champion: Jung Jiyul & Choi Haekwon (Korea)
- Runner-up: Wu Qin-Xuan & Chung Yun-Shen (Chinese Taipei)
- 3rd Place: Xu Yichen & Liu Yifan (China)
The 2nd World Pair Go Official Handicap Tournament
The second edition of this event was held three years after the inaugural tournament in 2022. It uses the patented rating system of the online Go salon ‘Pandanet’ to determine each pair’s combined strength (Pair Points) and assigns fair handicaps accordingly. This objective rating system ensures fair matchups and allows any pair to have a realistic chance of winning – one of the reasons this event was created to enhance the appeal of Pair Go.
Sixteen pairs were divided into Class A and Class B based on strength. Class A was won by the Austrian pair of Cherry Hu and Bin Hu, while Class B was won by the Japanese pair of Fujikawa Koharu and Takahashi Shin. Slovakia and Colombia finished as runners-up in Class A and B, respectively. After completing their matches in a single day, participants of both the U-15 Junior Championship and the Handicap Tournament took part in the Araki Cup Handicap Tournament on the following day, enjoying international friendship matches with Japanese Go enthusiasts.
Final Results Class A
- Champion: Cherry Hu & Bin Hu (Austria)
- Runner-up: Kristina Waczulikova & Juraj Waczulik (Slovakia)
- 3rd Place: Chikako Kuniwake & Hiroya Ishida (Japan)
Final Results Class B
- Champion: Koharu Fujikawa & Shin Takahashi (Japan)
- Runner-up: Maria Rodriguez Alarcon & Alan Cortes Sarmiento (Colombia)
- 3rd Place: Miyuki Nakamori & Iori Arita (Japan)
2. Professional Pair Go Championship 2025 Supported by Tokyu Group
Eight top Japanese professional male–female pairs, including Ryo Ichiriki (winner of the 2024 Ing Cup) and Ueno Asami (winner of the Wu Qingyuan Cup), gathered at the Expo venue for this dream match. Spectators, both domestic and international, closely followed the high-level games rarely seen in regular tournaments.
After three rounds of thrilling knockout matches, the pair of Risa Ueno (Women’s Kisei & Senko Cup titleholder) and Atsushi Sada 7-dan claimed victory. For Ueno, it was a remarkable first appearance and first title, while Sada achieved his second championship in three appearances — and this time, on his home turf in Kansai.
3. Friendship Pair Go Event – A Place for International Exchange
Traditional goodwill games were also held at the Expo venue. A total of 108 pairs (216 players) – including representatives and officials from 35 countries and territories, top professional players competing in the Professional Pair Go Championship, local Kansai pros, and Go community members – participated. Each table started with self-introductions before beginning the games (no time limits).
With many participants dressed in colorful national costumes, the atmosphere was lively, with smiles and laughter heard across the hall as players enjoyed friendly exchange through Pair Go.
4. Best Dresser Award Judged by World-Renowned Designer Junko Koshino
The ever-popular Best Dresser Award, judged by renowned designer Junko Koshino, was held once again. Players from around the world wearing national costumes, as well as Japanese amateur participants, were evaluated.
In her closing remarks, Koshino praised the award-winning nine pairs: ‘The Best Dresser Award is truly about teamwork as a pair. Holding such a wonderful contest here at the Expo, with players dressing up stylishly and playing Pair Go, requires a very high level of aesthetic sense.’
5. Manga Exhibition and National Costume Exhibition Bring Colour to the Venue
The festival also featured special exhibitions that brightened the venue.
Pair Go Manga Exhibition
Held for the first time since the 2022 Pair Go World Cup in Tokyo, this exhibition showcased works by legendary manga artists such as Katsuhiro Otomo, Tetsuya Chiba, and Machiko Satonaka, along with contributions from up-and-coming creators. Participants, officials, and even visitors new to Go stopped to appreciate the artwork between games.
Pair Go National Costume Exhibition
At the entrance, a digital signage display introduced illustrations of national costumes drawn by manga artists, along with photos of participants from past international tournaments. The colorful displays created a festive, international atmosphere fitting for the Expo.
6. Special Guests Brighten the Festival
Several distinguished guests visited the festival.
- Seiko Hashimoto (Member of the House of Councillors, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee) spoke at the Opening Ceremony:
‘Through the opportunity to compete together here at the Expo, I sincerely hope that the bonds of friendship between nations and between people will grow stronger, and that this will become a truly wonderful festival of peace.’ - Hirofumi Yoshimura (Governor of Osaka Prefecture) made a surprise visit on the final day, offering encouragement: ‘Pair Go is about creating something new out of uncertainty, cooperating with your partner, and moving forward together. This is exactly the theme of Expo 2025. I am very pleased to see so many people enjoying Pair Go here at the Expo venue.’
In addition, messages of support were received from ambassadors of ten countries (with the
Korean message sent by the chargé d’affaires). These can be read on the event website.
7. Next Event: Nagoya in 2026
This year’s festival brought together 209 pairs (418 players) from 35 countries and territories, attracting a total of approximately 55,000 visitors over three days, and concluded successfully.
Pair Go was conceived in 1990 by Hisao Taki and has been promoted worldwide by Hiroko Taki for 35 years. Today, the World Pair Go Association has 78 member countries and territories, continuing to serve as a global platform for cultural exchange through Go. The next international Pair Go event is scheduled to be held in Nagoya in September 2026, coinciding with the 20th Asian Games.