Maaya Go (Go on Hexagonal Board)

A Revolutionary Go Variant at EGC 2025

Experience Go like never before on a hexagonal board!


🎯 Tournament Overview

Join us for the inaugural Maaya Go (Go on Hexagonal Board) - an innovative fusion of Go and Hex that creates entirely new strategic possibilities. This exciting variant eliminates ko situations and cuts while introducing massive nakade opportunities, making every game a fresh tactical challenge.

When: July 20-21, 2025 (Sunday & Monday evenings) during EGC 2025
Where: EGC 2025 Venue
Prizes: Yes - 700 EUR prize pool

🎮 Game Format

  • Board: 169 intersections on a hexagonal grid (Hex Go Board)
  • Rounds: 12 rounds of intense competition
  • System: Hex Go uses Concord Rules (link)
  • Time Controls: Fischer, 10 min. + 5 sec.
  • Participants: Limited to 128 players + waitlist

✨ Why Play Hex Go?

Perfect Skill Transfer: Your Go reading skills translate perfectly to this variant! Even familiar moves transform - your ikken tobi becomes a bamboo connection on the hex grid. Hex Go players will find familiar connection-based strategy while Go players discover new tactical horizons.

Unique Strategic Elements:

  • Each stone has 6 liberties (not 4!) = less tactics, more strategy
  • No cuts = this is really a surrounding and connecting game
  • No ko situations = no repetitive tactical loops
  • Massive nakade potential = dramatic endgame scenarios
  • 169 intersections = perfect game length

Proven Success: Field-tested at Summer Go School with thrilling, tight finals that kept players on the edge of their seats!

🎯 Player Information

Open to All Levels - Perfect for beginners and professionals alike!

Everything Provided:

  • Hexagonal tournament boards (see Hex Go Board)
  • Clocks and timing equipment
  • Qualified judges
  • Complete written rules and instruction session

Registration: Limited to 128 players - first come, first served!

📞 Contact & Registration

Questions? Contact Marianna (marianna1182) and Yrael/Maksym (yrael21) on Discord at https://discord.gg/VafmZk9C2N

Registration: register at Infodesk at EGC!
Limit: 128 players + waitlist!

Don't miss this unique opportunity to be part of Go history! Experience the game that combines the best of Go and Hex in an entirely new strategic landscape.

Prizes

🏆 Prize Pool: Sponsored by Łukasz Lew – 700 EUR


🥇 Top Player Prizes

1st Place: 120 EUR

2nd Place: 80 EUR

3rd Place: 60 EUR

4th Place: 40 EUR

🏅 Performance Prizes

80 EUR award the best players within each MMS starting group (in all 5 groups), based on their initial pairing score (MMS from 4 down to 0).

This means:

🎯 One winner will be awarded in each MMS group:

  • MMS 4 group - 80 EUR
  • MMS 3 group - 80 EUR
  • MMS 2 group - 80 EUR
  • MMS 1 group - 80 EUR
  • MMS 0 group - 80 EUR

This structure is comparable to awarding the top-ranked players by dan/kyu in a standard tournament. However, instead of predefined ranks, we will use the tournament pairing logic itself.

🆕 This is likely the first time such a system has been used in European Go history, and it required adjustments to Open Gotha to make it work. We're excited to try it out with you!

⚠️ To keep things fair and meaningful, a minimum of 11 games played will be required to be eligible for any prize.

Thank you for embracing this innovative format – and good luck in all 12 rounds!

⚠️ Important Notes

  • Prizes are NOT cumulative.
  • If player is eligible for two prizes, he will get a higher one. The other prize will be reassigned
  • The organizer reserves the right to make changes without prior notice.
  • This information is not legally binding.