ABOUT THIS EPISODE
This episode is from All Things Go, a podcast about the board game Go, also known as Baduk in Korea and Weiqi in China.
Episode Summary
In this unscripted episode, Gazza White of the Pro Go/Baduk/Weiqi podcast joins Travis for a wide-ranging look at recent professional Go. They break down the 2026 World Pair Go Championship and what makes Pair Go strategically different, check in on Shibano Toramaru's 3-2 lead over Ichiriki Ryo in Japan's Meijin title match, follow Shin Jin-seo's run to the 49th Korean Myungin final and its unusual face-to-face online format, and unpack the Kisei's league-and-stepladder system.
The conversation also looks at Ueno Asami's historic promotion to Kisei League B, her "Hammer Princess" nickname and attacking style, and the challenges of following professional Go across Japan, Korea, and China.
Resources
- World Pair Go Championship 2026 - official results and game information from the international Pair Go event discussed in the episode, won by Fujisawa Rina and Ichiriki Ryo.
- Pro Go / Baduk / Weiqi Podcast - Gazza White’s podcast covering professional Go tournaments, players, and news from across the international Go scene.
- Ueno Asami — Nihon Ki-in Profile - the official profile for Ueno Asami, including her rank, titles, career record, and recent results.
- Play Like the Hammer Princess - a book featuring Ueno Asami’s games and aggressive playing style, which inspired her “Hammer Princess” nickname.
Full transcript, related episodes, and additional resources:
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