For Seattle-area high school student Zixuan Gao, attending her first U.S. Go Congress last year
was a transformative experience. “It actually blew my mind,” she tells Shawn Ray in a new video. “I had no idea so many people in the U.S. were this serious about Go.”
Used to practicing online and playing in virtual tournaments like the Redmond and Girls Cups, Gao – the AGA 2024 Girl’s Cup winner -- was struck by the scale, intensity, and community of the week-long in-person event. “It’s hard to find the same opportunity anywhere else,” she says. “Playing that many long, serious games and meeting other players my age and rank—it was incredible.”
Go, for Gao, began almost by accident. In 2019, her parents tried to enroll her in a Chinese chess class, but when it was full, they signed her up for Go instead. Now a 5-dan on Fox, Gao balances Go with a demanding high school schedule, carving out time for fast games and life-and-death problems.
Despite less frequent practice these days, she still sees Congress as a highlight of her Go year: “Playing face-to-face makes you focus more. You can see your opponent thinking, and it pulls you into the game.”
Gao’s advice to online-only players? “Just go. You’ll figure the rest out—and you’ll be glad you did.”
The 2025 U.S. Go Congress will be held July 12-20 in Austin, Texas; CLICK HERE for details and to register.