People's Daily Lingshui, January 15 (Reporter Li Naiyan) On January 14, the closing ceremony and award ceremony of the 2024 Lejule Cup Chinese Go League A was held in Lingshui, Hainan. Chang Hao, chairman of the Chinese Go Association, said that he will further increase the efforts to promote the reform of the AFC, enhance the sense of participation and attention of the league, and ensure a healthy operation.
Chang Hao said in his speech that since 2009, Supor Hangzhou team has ranked the highest number of championships in the league, demonstrating Zhejiang Hangzhou's strength and investment as a major Go center in China. Since the founding of Weijia, only Chongqing, Shanghai and Hangzhou have won many league titles. The three teams are ranked in the top six this year. From the perspective of excellent chess player training and league market operation, this is a fruitful result that can only be achieved through years of hard work. "I believe that Weijia League, as the driving force for progress and stability of the industry, will continue to grow healthily as always." Chang Hao said bluntly that looking back on the 2024 season, two feelings made him think deeply. One of the points is that the league's foreign aid Shin Jin-seo was undefeated in 15 games throughout the season, which can be said to be "invincible". It is not an exaggeration to say that "Supor Hangzhou team won the championship with foreign aids." For the league, the excellent performance of foreign players is a wonderful move for the club's market-oriented operation, but for Chinese Go, this is not a record worthy of pride. "I hope all chess players can take this as a warning and goal, reflect deeply, and work hard."
Another point worth pondering is the vacancy of the "Best Newcomer Award". Chang Hao pointed out that the selection criteria for this award "under 18 years old, with a winning rate of over half" have been used for nearly 20 years. The award selection was very fierce, and many outstanding candidates have emerged. But in the past two years, chess players under the age of 18 have won more than half of the winning results in the AFC, which has forced us to pay attention to it. Chang Hao admitted that the cultivation of reserve force of Chinese Go has reached an urgent and severe point. Young chess players must work harder. As role models, senior chess players will follow their steps. He really hopes that next season's End League will have a scene where multiple players compete for the Best Newcomer Award.
"These two feelings also urge the Chinese Go Association to seriously consider the incentive and guiding value of the Escort League. In the history of Escort League, according to the needs of the development situation in different periods, a competition system that combines the dual cycle system with regular season and playoffs has been used. In the past 2024 season, adjustments have been made to meet the social calls in terms of league salary, scoring system, and official website construction. For the new season of 2025, the Chinese Go Association will further increase the efforts to promote Escort League reform based on the early in-depth research and solicit opinions, so as to enhance the league's participation and attention, and ensure a healthy operation." Chang Hao said.
Chang Hao further explained the four words "benevolent operation". "The punishment decision announced by the National Chess and Cards Field Tournament Warning Education Association is heartbreaking and deeply touched. The Go Association discovered a cheating incident in the arena last month. The final investigation is currently underway, and the results will be released to the public in a timely manner. The tournament is the lifeline and high-voltage line of the industry. No matter how many achievements have been achieved and how high the position is, anyone is no exception. Once discovered, they will be severely punished. The crackdown and punishment will only be greater in the future. Please cherish the honor and cherish the present."
