Belgian Go Federation

This weekend marked the Finals of the Belgian Go Championship, delivering intense battles and a dramatic conclusion to the competition.

After the first day, Jan Ramon (4-dan) was the last undefeated player, showing impressive form and positioning himself as the favorite. However, Sunday’s matches brought unexpected twists.

The Road to the Finals

The first major upset of Sunday saw Yannick Kuy (1-kyu) defeat Jan, shaking up the leaderboard. Meanwhile, in a much-anticipated rematch, Kevin Prist (3-dan) secured a win against Lucman Bounoider (3-dan), keeping his championship hopes alive.

Kevin continued his strong performance by defeating Yannick, who had employed the "Great Wall of China" opening. With this win, Kevin advanced to the finals, setting up a decisive showdown against Jan.

The Championship Match

With both players holding one loss each, the title was on the line—whoever won this final game would become the Belgian Champion.

Kevin fought fiercely, pushing Jan . However, in the end, Jan emerged victorious, securing the national title. This victory also served as revenge for his previous loss to Kevin at the Lille Tournament.

Congratulations to Our New Champion!

A big congratulations to Jan Ramon, the 2025 Belgian Champion, and to all participants for a fantastic tournament filled with exciting games and memorable moments.

Final Standings

1 Ramon Jan
2 Prist Kevin
3 Kuy Yannick
4 Bounoider Lucman
5 Silcher Michael
6 De_Keijser Guillaume
7 Boukricha Moad

Looking forward to next year’s battles!

Come and enjoy !
https://www.gofed.be/node/1486

In the seventh round of the Pandanet Team Championship, Belgium faced off against the United Kingdom, resulting in a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Our lineup for this round featured Lucas, Jan, Lucman, and Kevin, all determined to keep Belgium in the race for a top-two finish.

Board 1: Lucas Dominates from Start to Finish
Lucas Neirynck (White) vs. Michael Cheung (4 Dan)

Lucas entered this match as the favorite and wasted no time asserting control. By move 17, despite being locally outnumbered 3 to 1, he emerged with a 10+ point lead. From that point onward, he never gave his opponent a chance to turn the game around, maintaining a steady advantage and securing Belgium’s first win of the round.
Belgium 1 – UK 0

Board 2: Jan Falls into a Tactical Trap
Scott Cobbold (4 Dan) vs. Jan Ramon (Black)

Jan started with his signature solid opening, aiming to build a strong foundation for the middle game. The turning point came when White, playing moves 38 and 39, began shaping central influence.
Jan’s attempt to counter with a pincer at move 43 backfired when his stones were cut off and captured, giving White a 9-point lead. He fought back by attacking a weak White group in the center, but his opponent skillfully maneuvered to connect his own groups while keeping Jan’s completely surrounded.
Despite his aggressive efforts, Jan’s group was ultimately captured, sealing the game in favor of the UK.
Belgium 1 – UK 1

Board 3: Lucman Secures a Convincing Victory
Lucman Bounoider (White) vs. Jake Dane (4 Dan)

Lucman’s game was a back-and-forth battle, featuring sharp fighting from the outset. The key sequence unfolded in the top right corner, where complications arose after an early pincer. By move 90, Lucman had skillfully maneuvered to keep the game balanced, despite his group still being somewhat unsettled.
The decisive moment came at move 135, when Black attempted to invade White’s area of influence. Lucman countered calmly and efficiently, securing solid points while keeping his groups connected. By the time the dust settled, he held a commanding 20+ point lead, clinching Belgium’s second victory of the match.
Belgium 2 – UK 1

Board 4: Kevin Struggles Against Bruno’s Precision
Bruno Poltronieri (4 Dan) vs. Kevin Prist (Black)

Kevin opted for a double kosumi opening, aiming for a flexible, dynamic game. However, White capitalized early with a counter-pincer, leading to a 7-point advantage for Bruno by move 33.
Kevin attempted to break through with a push-and-cut sequence, but his stones were captured, and Bruno extended his lead to 37 points. Despite Kevin’s best efforts to mount a comeback, his opponent’s precise play left no room for recovery, handing the UK their second win and evening the match.
Belgium 2 – UK 2

Final Score: Belgium 2 – UK 2
With this result, Belgium now sits in third place, trailing Italy (1st) and the Netherlands (2nd). Only the top two teams advance to League One, keeping the pressure on as the competition heats up.
Belgium still has a crucial matchup against Italy, meaning our path to promotion is still open—but every game counts from here on out.
No pressure.
For those who want to relive the action, all game records are available on the Pandanet website.
https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps
Complete results: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/rounds/1116

We are very happy to announce the creation of a new Go club in the west of Belgium: Diksmuide - Seki 8600 Go club !

The club will gather monthly according with contact by email.
We wish the Go club of Diksmuide to be successful in enlightening the spirit of its players !

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As a reminder, the Federation helps the creation of new Go clubs with material and advice.
In the case there is no Go club nearby, if you feel you have the motivation for it, we would be happy to help you to start one. And even if you don't have much time (or are a bit lazy ;)) you may also become a "point of contact". In any case just contact us. ;)

The 8th European Pro Qualification takes place on February 10th to 16th in Vienna, with 12 candidates struggling to become the 10th European Pro!
They will play a round robin (11 rounds).
Games are broadcasted and reviewed live on Twitch.
Lucas is one of them. Althought he is not the favourite (who is the another Lukas...Lukas Podpera), who knows ?!
Follow him here: https://eurogofed.org/proqualification/index_2025.html

This weekend, the qualifier for the 2025 Belgian Championship took place, determining which players would join last year’s top four: reigning champion Xin Shu (6-dan), runner-up and top Belgian Lucas Neirynck (6-dan), Guillaume De Keijser (4-kyu), and Jan Ramon (4-dan).

With six participants, the tournament was condensed into five rounds instead of the usual seven.

The final round became a high-stakes showdown between the last two undefeated players: Lucman Bounoider (3-dan) and Kevin Prist (3-dan). Remarkably, before 2024, the last time these two had faced each other in rated play was back in 2010—when both were still kyus.

Their rivalry reignited this year, with each player securing a victory in previous encounters. Lucman won their match at the 2024 Brussels Tournament, but Kevin evened the score at the first Hoshi Tournament. This final game would settle the latest chapter in their growing rivalry.

The match started cautiously, with both players focusing on building solid shapes. When the fighting began, Lucman was the first to exploit a weakness in Kevin’s position, gaining an early advantage. However, Kevin remained composed, patiently working his way back into the game. In the end, Kevin was slightly ahead on the board, but the result was sealed when Lucman lost on time.

Final Standings:
Rank Player Score
1st Kevin 5
2nd Lucman 4
3rd Yannick 3
4th Michael 2
5th Guy 1
6th Moad 0

With these results, as Xin will not participate in the finals, top 5 people secured their place in the 2025 Belgian Championship alongside last year’s remaining of the top four. Congratulations to all participants on a competitive tournament!

Official tournament to qualify 4 players (4 players are already qualified) for the final stage of the Belgian Championship (final to be played 15 + 16 March).

Regsitration form: see calendar

Venue
Belgium-China Association - Avenue Paul Deschanel 92 - 1030 Brussels

How to get there
The tournament location is 20 minutes walking from the Brussel North train station (Brussel-Noord / Bruxelles-Nord)
2 minutes away from the tram station Côteaux
15 minutes away from the metro station Botanique

1st round on 10 AM on Saturday 08/02.
Swiss system - 7 rounds (possibly round robin up to 8 participants)

For who ?
Belgian Nationality is not required, but only a Belgian player can become Belgian Champion.
Free of charge. But only for members of the Belgian Go Federation.
--> If you are not member yet, please check with your club manager.

No level restriction, every player is welcome but confirmed club level is advisable.

The General Assembly of the Belgian Go Federation will take place on Sunday 19/01/2025 from 2 PM till 5 PM
at the Association Belgique-Chine Avenue Paul Deschanel,92 - 1030 Brussels (Schaerbeek).

This important yearly meeting is the main opportunity to exchange information, share ideas and comments regarding the past year and the future of your club and of the BGF.

In particular, we would appreciate the participation of every club captains, or at least 1 representative per club.

Agenda:
1. Report on 2024 activities (by the president); 2024 financial report (by the treasurer)
2. Projects for 2025 (and later) - among which the developpment on a new BGF website - and setting of the 2025 budget
3. Update of the statutes (so as to remain complient with the new legislation)
4. Election of the board of directors

PS: only BGF members have voting rights.

The Belgian Go team kicked off the new year with an incredible victory in Round 4 of the Pandanet Team Championship, defeating the Netherlands 3-1. Before this round, the Netherlands held second place in the league, making this an uphill battle for Belgium. With key players like Kevin unavailable and a challenging schedule, the odds were against us. According to the European Go Database, Belgium was the underdog in every match.
Yet, our lineup of Lucas, Jan, Lucman, and Guillaume rose to the occasion and delivered an unforgettable performance.

Board 2: Jan Ramon vs. René Aaij

The first game of the round was played on Sunday and featured Jan Ramon (Black) against René Aaij. René, a top Dutch player with multiple podium finishes last year, promised to be a tough opponent.
Jan opened with his characteristic double komoku and a small shimari on the north side of the board. The early game was tight, with a ko fight around move 40. By move 57, Jan had claimed the corner, gaining a small lead. White’s move 58 was strong, cutting and isolating part of Black’s central group. However, White’s mistake at move 62 allowed Black to connect through a ladder, giving Jan a 10-point advantage.
Jan capitalized on his lead by attacking White’s weak groups on the right, solidifying his influence in the center. By move 117, Jan was ahead by 13 points. A dramatic ko fight emerged at move 137 when Jan pulled out a black stone in the corner. Although White lived big in the corner, narrowing the gap to just 2 points, Jan launched a bold invasion on the left. A chaotic fight ensued, with groups on both sides at risk of dying. Jan’s brilliant endgame play at move 195 secured his victory in this nail-biting match.His opponent thought is was an overplay, and then Jan could live in the west.

Result: Belgium’s first underdog victory.

More info: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps
Complete results: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/rounds/1114

Board 1: Rob van Zeijst vs. Lucas Neirynck

Lucas Neirynck, fresh off a third-place finish in the European Grand Prix Final 2024, faced Rob van Zeijst on Board 1. Lucas (White) had a challenging game as Rob showcased his exceptional skill and experience.
By move 44, Black’s groups were solid while White had two weak groups. Rob’s north-side invasion put Lucas on the defensive, and by move 100, Rob had established a 15-point lead according to AI analysis. Despite Lucas’s efforts to turn the tide, Rob’s solid play kept him in control. He managed to cut off one of Lucas’s groups in the east, sealing the game in his favor.

Result: Belgium loses on Board 1.

Board 3: Lucman Bounoider vs. Gelmer Bouwman

Lucman Mohammad (White) faced Gelmer van Dijk on Board 3. Lucman attempted to steer the game into familiar territory with his favorite joseki, but Gelmer opted for a simpler variation, isolating Lucman’s stones in the corner and gaining a 10-point lead by move 67.
The game’s turning point came when Gelmer invaded the west at move 91. Lucman launched a sharp counterattack, cutting through Black’s groups. Although Gelmer managed to live in the corner, his outside groups were heavily weakened. A final ko fight ensued, but Gelmer lacked sufficient threats, allowing Lucman to secure a commanding 20-point victory.
Result: Another win for Belgium.

Board 4: Guillaume De Keijser vs. Herman Hiddema

The final game saw Guillaume Jacobs (Black) take on Herman Wortelboer, a 4-dan player. Despite a misclick at move 11 that cost Guillaume 4 points, he managed to stabilize the game. By move 47, Guillaume captured four stones in the center, connecting two weak groups but still trailing by 6 points.
As the game progressed, Guillaume’s group in the east came under severe attack, and he found himself 25 points behind. However, a critical turning point came at move 120 when White overplayed while attacking Guillaume’s stones. Guillaume seized the opportunity, starting a capturing race that led to a decisive ko fight. Although White killed some of Black’s stones, Guillaume managed to kill all of White’s stones in the left half of the board, securing an improbable 10.5-point victory.
Result: A miracle win for Belgium.

Final Score: Netherlands 1 – Belgium 3

On paper, Belgium was the underdog in this round, but the team’s determination and skill turned the tide. With this remarkable 3-1 victory, Belgium starts the new year with momentum and confidence.
Great games were played by all, and we thank everyone who supported the team. For those who want to relive the action, the games can be viewed on the Pandanet website.
Let’s keep up the great work and look forward to the upcoming rounds!

More info: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps
Complete results: https://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/rounds/1114