Confirmed Professionals

Masataka Saijo, 9 dan (born in 1941 in Japan) turned professional in 1964 and reached 9 dan in 2003. He first attended the European Go Congress in 1984 in Porrentruy, Switzerland, and again at the 1993 congress in Prague, Czechia. Since that congress in 1993, he has attended the congress more than ten times. Saijo sensei is highly regarded as an instructor by beginners and professionals alike. In 1997 Saijo sensei was appointed as Honorary Go Teacher of the EGF.

Since Saijo is now retired and gets no support from the Nihon-kiin, the organizers can only get him to the EGC if they pay for his travel, stay, etc. The Swedish organizers in Leksand started the initiative to gather donations to support a visit by Saijo sensei last year. His visit was a big success, so if you would like him to visit this year as well, please donate (this is done in cooperation with EuroGoTV, a big thank you to them for helping!).

Zhang Wendong (Born 1969 in Beijing) won the World Amateur Go Championship in 1988. When he became professional, he was made 5 dan immediately. He reached 9 dan in 1993. He is now very active in promoting go and organizing go events, such as the 2008 World Mind Sports Games.

Wang Yu Hui, born 1976, became a professional in 1990. He reached 6 dan in 1997 and 7 dan in 2000, and is one of the current top competitors in the Chinese professional go scene.

Xu Ying was born December 31, 1972. In 1990 she won the 2nd Women Mingren title. In 1997, 2000 and 2004 she won the 20th, 23rd and 27th National Go Women Individual champion, in 1993 she was runner-up, in 1995 she reached third place. In 2000 she was runner-up in the 1st Eastern Airlines Cup Women Go Contest. She won the 8th Ricoh pairgo championship in 2005.
In 2005 and 2006, her team won the Jeongganjang Cup.

Yoon Youngsun, born 1977, became professional 1 dan in 1992. She became one of the top female professionals in Korea, winning the Female Kuksu Tournament four times (1994-1998), as well as the 2002 Hojak female world championship. She reached 5 dan in 2006, then moved to Hamburg, Germany, where she lives together with her husband, Rasmus Buchmann. She has since become a popular teacher in Germany as well as the rest of Europe.

Kim Hyeong Hwan was born August 26, 1986. He was promoted to 4p in 2007.

Alexandre Dinerchtein, born 1980 in Kazan, Russia, has been playing since he was 6 years old. At age 16, he moved to Korea to further study the game, and he was made professional 1 dan in 2002. He is currently 3 dan professional, and is teaching throughout Europe, as well as on the internet.

Yuki Shigeno (born 1965 in Niigata Prefecture) is a disciple of Shimamura Toshihiro 9 dan. She was promoted to 1 dan in 1986 and 2 dan in 1994.

Shigeno spent many years in Milano, Italy, and is well known to the European go players. Since 2006, she is Secretary General of the International Go Federation.