In an intense showdown at the National Go Center’s (NGC) Back-to-School Tournament, Justin
Teng 6D emerged as the undisputed champion, finishing with a flawless 4-0 record. The tournament – which drew 29 players -- featured live-streamed games on Board 1, offering viewers a front-row seat to the strategic battles of the event’s top players.
Among the high-dan players, Teng led the pack, followed closely by Hsi-wen Chen 5D, who finished second with a 3-1 score. Both players showcased remarkable skill and precision, but it was Teng who maintained a perfect run throughout the tournament.
Other standout performances included Amari Gonzalez 2K, Joseph Craig 3K, Anderson Barreal 3K, Garrett Smith 9K, and Fangjun Li 12K, who all finished with strong 3-1 records, demonstrating the depth of talent in this year’s field, which included a contingent of six players from the State College (PA) Go Club.
The game recording was by the AGA’s new electronic AI IZIS game recording board, which performed well in its NGC debut, with remote tech support from the EGF’s Damir Medak. The producing team included the EJ’s Chris Garlock and Todd Heidenreich at the NGC, and Baduk Club’s Devin Fraze online.
“The tournament was a thrilling start to the Fall 2024 season, setting the stage for more exciting competitions ahead,” said TD Gurujeet Khalsa. Next month’s tournament is the always popular Pumpkin Classic; registration is open now.
- report/photos by Chris Garlock