Teachers

Go is more than just a game – it's a meeting of minds, traditions, and strategies. Throughout the Congress, you'll have the chance to interact with elite players from Asia and Europe, each bringing their own unique style and experience. Their presence enriches the Congress program with lectures, reviews, and opportunities to engage with Go at the highest level.

Head Go Instructor

Inseong Hwang 8d

One of the most respected Go teachers in Europe with 20 years of teaching experience. He was a Korean Yunguseng (Insei) from 1996 to 2001. In 2002, he joined the Myoung-ji University Baduk Department and worked as a Baduk television commentator. In 2005, he moved to Europe. He is the founder of the renowned Yunguseng Dojang, an online Go school that has been successfully running for over 14 years. He has served as the Official Go Instructor for the French and Swiss Go Associations. While living in Europe, he was the top-ranked player for five years (2013-2018), and regained the title in 2024. Known for his clear teaching style, sense of humor, and practical advice that helps players improve quickly.

Teaching: 21.07-02.08

He will give lectures every day, and will be available for game reviews and simultaneous games. He also plans to comment games from European Championship on Twitch.

Japan:

Kozo Hayashi 7p – Kansai Kiin

A professional player from Kansai Ki-in with many years of teaching experience across Europe. He was a guest at the European Go Congress in Olsztyn in 2013 and has since made several visits to Poland, sharing his knowledge and passion for Go in local clubs. Hayashi-sensei brings a deep understanding of European players and is known for his energetic, open, and inspiring teaching style. Besides Go, he is also a musician who plays the traditional Japanese sanshin.

Teaching: 25.07-02.08

He will give 2 lectures, and will be available for game reviews and simultaneous games.

Hirohito Toyoda 3p – Nihon Kiin

Born in 1999 in Tokyo. Studied at Toyo University in 2017

Go Career:

  • Runner up of The 16th World Students Go Oza Championship in 2018
  • Winner of All Japan Students Go Oza Championship in 2017
  • Got Certified as 1 dan pro of Nihon Ki-in in Tokyo in 2019
  • Got Qualified to Shinjin O Main Tournament 2025
  • Got Promoted to 3 dan in 2025
  • Performance of Pro tournaments in 2025: 11 wins – 8 loss (as of 17th June 2025)

Teaching: 20.07-23.07

He will give 2 lectures (on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd):

  1. Classical Go Proverbs vs AI
  2. Last Meijin Godokoro, "Honibo Jowa": his Power of Middle Fight and his dark story

He will also be available for game reviews and simultaneous games.

Korea:

Seungmin Oh 3p

Hello, my name is Seungmin Oh, and I am a professional Go player from Korea. Last year, I had the honor of participating in the European Go Congress as a player, where I formed many meaningful connections. This year, I’m delighted to return as an instructor. It’s truly special for me to be back at the European Go Congress, and I look forward to sharing this experience with you through the game of Go.

Teaching: 20.07-02.08

He will give game reviews and play simultaneous games.

Wonjin Choi 3p

Hello, my name is Choi Wonjin, a professional Go player 3P from Korea. First of all, I’m truly delighted to be part of the European Go Congress again this year. I’d like to sincerely thank all the organizers and staff who made this wonderful event possible. I’ll do my best to help make this festival a joyful and memorable experience for everyone participating. Good luck to all!

Teaching: 20.07-02.08

He will give game reviews and play simultaneous games.

Chi-min Oh 8d

An 8-dan EGF player with years of teaching experience in Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France. He has also taught at Inseong Hwang’s Yunguseng Dojang and worked with the Korea Baduk Association, where he coordinated international events such as the Korea Prime Minister Cup (KPMC).

He is a founding member and finance director of the International Society of Go Studies (ISGS), contributing to Go-related research. Alongside his academic work at the University of Oxford, he continues to explore the evolving relationship between Go and AI.

Teaching: 22.07-28.07

On Thursday 24th, he will give a lecture titled "AI Eyes: What It Can See and What It Cannot". Throughout his stay at EGC, he will also be available for game reviews and simultaneous games.

Kim Seung-jun (Blackie) 9p

Kim Seung-jun, widely known in the Go community as Blackie, is a 9-dan professional Go player. His English nickname derives from his Korean nickname, 흑기사 (Black Knight), which refers both to his darker skin tone and his bold, fighting playing style.

Among his notable achievements are:

  • Runner-up in the Kukgi Cup, National Championship (1994)
  • Semifinalist in the Samsung Cup, World Championship (1997)
  • Quarterfinalist in the LG Cup, World Championship (1996)
  • Top 16 and Top 32 in the BC Card Cup, World Championship (2011 and 2012)

Blackie was also a member of the Korean team that won the 2003 Nongshim Cup and served as the men’s coach at the 2010 Asian Games, where Korea claimed three gold medals.

In recent years, he has continued to compete successfully. He entered the Futures Baduk League in 2021 and, in 2022, won the Senior Baduk League, where he was also named MVP.

Beyond competition, Blackie has been active in teaching. Since 2011, he has co-directed BIBA (Blackie’s International Baduk Academy) alongside Diána Kőszegi 2p. The academy has welcomed over 250 players from all continents to study Go in Korea.

He speaks Korean, Chinese, and English, and in his spare time enjoys playing sports, especially tennis and footvolleyball.

Teaching: 20.07-24.07

He will give game reviews and play a simultaneous game. On Thursday 24th, together with Diána Kőszegi 2p, he will introduce a new AI Go robot - Kitty Go, during a special event.

Diána Kőszegi 2p

Diána Kőszegi is a 2-dan professional Go player originally from Hungary, and she has been living in Korea for a long time. 
She is one of Europe's top Go players and an active promoter of the game worldwide.

Before moving to Korea, her notable achievements included:

  • 4th place in the Female Amateur World Championship (1997)
  • 9th place in the World Amateur Go Championship (1998), with a record of 6 wins and 2 losses
  • European Youth Champion and Hungarian Champion (2000)

In 2005, Diána moved to Korea to further improve in Go, became an insei, and turned pro in 2008—the same year she graduated from Myongji University.

Since 2011, she has co-directed Blackie’s International Baduk Academy (BIBA) in Seoul with Blackie Kim Seung-jun 9p. 
Most recently, on June 17th, she was promoted to 2-dan professional after defeating a 6-dan pro at the Myeongin Professional Tournament.
In addition to her playing and teaching career, Diána has translated several Korean Go books into English. Her latest translation, AI After Joseki, is currently about to go to print.
She speaks Hungarian, English, and Korean, and has also studied Japanese and some Chinese. In her spare time, she enjoys a wide range of sports, including soccer, tennis, footvolleyball, basketball, swimming, and more.

Teaching: 20.07-24.07

She will give game reviews and play a simultaneous game. On Thursday 24th, together with Blackie 9p, she will introduce a new AI Go robot - Kitty Go, during a special event.

China:

Li Ang 3p

He is not only a skilled Go player but also one of the most respected Go cultural scholars and collectors in the world. He has authored over 30 books on Go, including works for beginners and in-depth analyses of historical games. His passion for Go extends beyond the board—he has assembled one of the largest private collections of Go artifacts, which he documented in his renowned three-volume series Treasures of Go.

As a dedicated coach, Li Ang has mentored dozens of young talents, including future world champions. For years, he has worked tirelessly to promote Go internationally, especially in Europe, where he has led lectures, workshops, and cultural exchanges in over 20 countries, inspiring thousands of players.

Through his writing, coaching, and media presence, Li Ang continues to shape the global Go community, bridging cultures and generations through his lifelong dedication to the game.

Teaching: 20.07-01.08

He will hold 2 lectures:

  1. Treasured Go Art Collection Series: "Moments of Genius from Legendary Go Masters in Pivotal Matches
  2. Mid-game Strategies and Brilliant Moves in Ancient Chinese Go Masterpieces

Additionally, he will give game reviews and play simultaneous games.

Wang Xiangyun 4p

Go Achievements:

  • Became a professional player in 2005 and was promoted to the 4p in 2025
  • 2008 Women's Professional Weiqi Team Champion of the First World Mind Games
  • Champion of 2005 Women's National Weiqi Individual Championship
  • Champion of 2010 Eighth "Jianqiao Cup" National Weiqi Women's Open
  • 2005 "Cheong Kwan Jang Cup" Three Kingdoms Weiqi Challenge - 5 consecutive wins
  • Chinese team representative of 2006 and 2008 "Cheong Kwan Jang Cup"
  • Quarterfinals of 2016 "Qionglongshan" World Women's Open
  • The runner-up of 2017 Three Kingdoms Weiqi Pair Weiqi Masters with Nie Weiping
  • Team Champion of 2015 and 2019 National Mind Games
  • Team Champion of 2018 and 2019 National Women's Weiqi A League
  • Author: "Entering the Hall of Weiqi" 《步入围棋的殿堂》, "Lonely Seeking Defeat-Detailed Explanation of AlphaGo60 Games"《孤高求败-阿尔法Go60局详解》

Teaching: 20.07-31.07

She will be available for game reviews and simultaneous games.

Jujo Jiang 9p

Go Career:

  • At age of six, starting to learn go;
  • In 1978, entering into the National Team;
  • In 1982, being entitled professional 5 Dan;
  • In 1987, Winning the title of 9 Dan;
  • In 1999, being enrolled in Korean Go Institute;
  • From 2011 on, being a go educationalist in Shanghai;

Go Achievements:

  • In 1973, winning the National Children’s Champion at the age of 11;
  • In 1977, winning the National Teenagers’ Champion;
  • In 1985, winning 5 games continuously in the first Sino-Japan Arena Contest, creating a great surprise in China and Japan;
  • In 2002, winning the Champion of the 3rd Maixin Cup 9 Dan Contest in Korea;
  • In 2017, Being invited by the headquarters of UNESCO to go to Paris and give a lecture titled ‘the Book of Changes in go’;

Special Guest Lecture (Sunday 27th, 17:00): "How to use AI to improve at Go"

Europe:


Benjamin Dréan-Guénaïzia 1p

Achievements

  • 2015 - European Team Champion
  • 2017 - French Champion
  • 2019 - French Champion - European Team Champion
  • 2020 - European Team Champion
  • 2021 - European Team Champion
  • 2022 - European Champion
  • 2024 - French Champion - European Team Champion

"I started playing Go in 2005 in my hometown of Concarneau, France. Throughout my career, I had 3 wonderful teachers, Paul Piriou 8k (the president of my hometown's club), François Myzessin 5d and Motoki Noguchi 7d. I also had an opportunity to go to Korea for 5 month to study with Kim Seungjun 9p and Diana Kozsegi 1p. From the moment I played my first game, I knew I would be addicted and it never stopped. Shortly after, I created the "ben0" account on KGS, and that is how it all started... After reaching 6d level in 2014, I thought I had reached a plateau, however I lived a kind of rebirth with AI. I found new inspirations which helped me to reach 7d then 1p level and accomplish many nice feats in the last few years. I do hope my Go career still has a lot to offer."

Teaching: 29.07-02.08

During the first week, he will play in the European Championship, and in the beginning of the second week - Pandanet Team Championship.

From Tuesday 29th on, he will be available for game reviews and simultaneous games.

On Wednesday 30th, he will hold a lecture about avoiding complications in your games.