DALLAS, TX – The 2025 South Central Go Tournament brought fierce competition and record-
breaking participation as players battled for top honors at the University of Texas at Dallas over Presidents’ Day weekend. After a five-year hiatus from the UT Dallas campus, the tournament made its much-anticipated return, drawing 64 competitors ranging in age from 9 to 70.
Tournament Director Tieling Xie expressed gratitude for the support that made the event possible: “I sincerely thank Dr. Kratz and Dr. Gou from the Center for Asian Studies at UT Dallas for generously sponsoring our annual tournament by providing the venue.”
The competition was intense across all divisions, with the Open Section featuring a star-studded lineup of 18 top-tier players. Rising to the occasion, Tien-Chu Liu dominated the field, clinching the Texas Championship title with an impeccable 5-0 record. Sungjun Lee secured second place with a strong 4-1 finish, while a crowded race for third saw Juanshu Lan edge out Bowei Xu on tiebreaker scores.
The excitement didn’t stop there. Eric Hansen took home first place in the single-digit kyu division with a flawless 5-0 record, while Jerry Young and Katie Oh secured second and third, respectively. In the double-digit kyu division, Lawrence Chou emerged victorious with an unblemished 5-0 performance, followed by Randon Fullmer in second and Nate Choe in third after another tight tiebreaker.
The youth division, showcasing the next generation of Go talent, saw Matt Xiong claim the top spot, with Tzu Hao Yu and Levi Edwards rounding out the podium.
With record participation and thrilling matchups, the 2025 South Central Go Tournament proved to be a landmark event, setting the stage for even fiercer battles in the years to come.
photo (l-r): TD Tieling Xie, Open section 1st place Tien-Chu Liu, Dr. Kratz from UTD, Bart Jacob from Austin Go Club