Chen Clinches Maryland Open Title with Perfect 5-0 Record
Despite a Saturday evening tennis injury that resulted in him holding an ice pack on his head during Sunday’s matches, Michael Chen 1P completed a flawless run at the 49th Maryland Open, finishing the weekend undefeated at 5-0 to secure the top spot in the Open section. Chen’s steady hand and professional-level precision kept him just ahead of a strong challenge from Ninghan Duan 7d, who posted an impressive 4-1 record, falling only to Chen in a closely contested matchup. Alexander Qi 1P rounded out the top three at 3-2, demonstrating sharp reading and strong endgame in several key rounds. With 187 SOS points, Chen's dominant performance and strength of schedule not only sealed his victory in one of the country’s longest-running Go tournaments; with this win he ties Eric Lui 2p for second place all-time with five Maryland Open titles. Click here for complete results.
photo (l-r): TD Todd Heidenreich, Duan, Chen, Qi and longtime tournament organizer Keith Arnold.
Kim Claims First U.S. Title at 2025 Chicago Open
DoHyup Kim 8d captured his first U.S. title in commanding fashion at the 2025 Chicago Open, going undefeated with a perfect 7-0 record. Kim’s sharp reading and poised endgame play earned 
him 789 SOS points, finishing atop one of the most competitive regional fields in the country. Juanshu Lan 6d and Yihan Guo 6d followed close behind with 5-2 records, showcasing deep skill and resilience throughout the tournament. The two-day event wrapped up with seven rounds of fierce play and some of the most exciting Go action of the season. Befitting the holiday weekend, many players stayed late Saturday night for dinner, a special Go trivia contest, and casual play, adding to the warm, communal spirit of the tournament. Click here for complete results.
photo: DoHyup Kim 8d; photo by Chris Garlock
Three-Peat! Jasper Liu Wins 2025 San Diego Go Championship
Jasper Liu (right) has claimed the 2025 San Diego Go Championship title with a perfect 5-0 record, securing his third championship win and solidifying his dominance on the West Coast
circuit. Liu topped the field with a 3.20 SOS, finishing undefeated in a strong Open section lineup. Yingxu Zhu and Yihao Man both finished 4-1, taking second and third respectively based on SOS. Yixian Zhou rounded out the top of the table at 2-3, demonstrating tenacity against tough competition. Click here for complete results.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to all the players and organizers for successful tournaments — part of an unprecedented weekend of coast-to-coast live-streaming Go coverage by the E-Journal team; watch replays on YouTube or Twitch. Comments/suggestions welcome -- email journal@usgo.org -- as we plan our US Go Congress coverage July 12-20 in Austin, Texas; click here for details and to register.