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Vietnam Wins First Southeast Asian Go League Malaysia Places Third
**Kuala Lumpur, June 16th** — After two days of intense competition, the inaugural Southeast Asian Go League concluded successfully yesterday at Hotel Royal Signature in Kuala Lumpur. This landmark event not only set multiple firsts in the history of Go in Southeast Asia but also marked a new chapter in the development of the game in the region. Ultimately, Team Vietnam emerged as the champion, standing out among the nine participating teams to claim the title and a prize of 3,000 Malaysian Ringgit. Team Thailand and the host nation, Team Malaysia, secured second and third place respectively, while Team Singapore finished fourth. Vietnamese female player Ha Quynh Anh was honored with the title of "Best Female Player" and awarded 500 Malaysian Ringgit. The total prize pool for the event reached 7,000 Malaysian Ringgit.
Organized by the Malaysian Go Association and hosted by the Southeast Asian Go League Organizing Committee, the tournament was held on June 14th and 15th. As the first transnational team Go league in Southeast Asia, the event brought together 27 top players from nine countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia. The participants included several seasoned Go players from the region, with the overall competitive level rivaling that of other major Go tournaments in Southeast Asia.
The event received strong support from prominent business leaders such as Mr. Tong Xiuzhu, Chairman of Guangdong Yihe Beijian Industrial Group, and Mr. Mo Jiehua, Chairman of Yangjiang Hualing Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. Renowned Go figures, including professional 9-dan player Liang Weitang, Zhou Long, Chen Dingchuan, and Liang Zhirong, attended as spectators, adding prestige to the occasion. Additionally, the tournament garnered congratulatory letters from the Chinese Go Association, the Chinese Taipei Go Association, the Macau Go Association, and the German Go Association, expressing their support and recognition. The event also benefited from technical support from the Yike Go platform and the Yin Zhi smart Go board.
At the grand opening ceremony on the 14th, Mr. Zhang Zhishun, President of the Malaysian Go Association, delivered an enthusiastic speech. He stated, "Go is a crystallization of Eastern wisdom and a language that transcends borders. It is not merely a competitive sport but also a vehicle for cultural exchange and heritage. In recent years, Go has flourished globally, but in Southeast Asia, we still need more promotion and investment to allow this ancient and profound art to take root and thrive in this vibrant region. This tournament adds another high-level event to Southeast Asian Go and provides a valuable platform for players from different countries to interact." President Zhang particularly thanked the Chinese sponsors for their support: "The vision of entrepreneurs like Chairman Tong Xiuzhu has injected strong momentum into the development of Go in Southeast Asia. We look forward to establishing long-term collaborative mechanisms to jointly promote the growth and popularization of Go in the region."
Mr. Tong Xiuzhu, the primary sponsor representative, remarked in his speech: "Go is a gem of Chinese civilization and a cultural treasure shared by all humanity. For three thousand years, the interplay of black and white stones on this compact board has taught us the responsibility of 'no regrets in every move' and conveyed the Eastern philosophy of 'harmony in diversity.' Today, we use Go as a bridge to connect nine nations—this is a milestone for Go in Southeast Asia and a grand stage for players to forge friendships and write new chapters together."
During the closing ceremony, awards and trophies were presented to the top-ranking teams. Mr. Mo Jiehua expressed that this was just the beginning of Go collaboration in Southeast Asia, expressing hope for broader participation in the future to collectively advance the sport in the region. The successful hosting of this tournament not only showcased the competitive prowess of Southeast Asian Go players but also established an important platform for fostering regional cultural exchange.