Taiwan

Taiwan (臺灣 Táiwān) is the common name of the Republic of China (ROC) which governs the island of Formosa and several smaller outlying island groups of Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Lanyu (Orchid Island), and Green Island.

Go Organizations

Taiwan's professional system started in 1979.

• Taiwan Qiyuan (臺灣棋院) is a professional association that was founded in 2000, and Taiwan is fielding an increasing number of strong players.
• Zhongguo Weiqi Hui (中國圍棋會) is the oldest Go organization in Taiwan.
• Ing Chang-Ki Wei-Ch'i Educational Foundation (應昌期圍棋教育基金會) sponsors the international Ing Cup among other things.
• Haifeng Qiyuan (海峰棋院) , named after Lin Haifeng (Rin Kaiho), is sponsoring three domestic tournaments. Its website is a good source for all the tournaments in Taiwan.
• China Professional Go Association (中華職業圍棋協會) is a professional only organization.
• Zhonghua Mínguo Weiqí Xiehui (中華民國圍棋協會, Republic of China Go Association) is an organization for amateurs affiliated to the International Go Federation. Website: http://www.weiqi.org.tw/

Rulesets

In Taiwan, three rulesets co-exist - Japanese, Chinese and Ing rules. Amateurs usually use the Chinese rules.

There is a page on so-called Taiwan Rules, which deals with a peculiar game-ending procedure.

Title winners in Japan

Taiwan has kept generally good relationship with Japan even after fifty years of Japanese rule (1895–1945). As a result, many Taiwanese players went to Japan and became professionals there, including many major title winners as follows.

• (Name in Japan, Taiwanese name, first title and year)
• Rin Kaiho (Lin Haifong): Meijin 1965
• O Rissei (Wang Li Chen): Oza 1995
• O Meien(Wang Ming Wan): Honinbo 2000
• Cho U (Chang Hsu): Honinbo 2003
• Kyo Kagen (Hsu Chia Yuan): Gosei 2018

In addition, Yo Seiki (Yu Zheng Qi) has won and defended the Kansai Kiin First Place Championship 8 times, 2017–2024. He also challenged major titles six times, but with no success.

In the women’s arena, Xie Yimin holds the record for most titles won, 27, collecting them in the years 2006–2017.

Native growth

More recently, formation of professional organizations, rapid development of the internet and decline of Go in Japan made many promising Taiwan players, such as Zhou Junxun, to stay in their home island. Recent winners in world class events are:

• Xu Haohong – gold medalist at the Asian Games Men’s Individual competition in 2023.
• Lai Junfu — winner of the 10th Kuksu Mountains Cup in 2024.

See also

/Discussion (past discussions on the difference between Taiwanese and Standard Chinese languages. And some political considerations)

List of Taiwanese professionals