The North American Go Federation (NAGF) has announced the promotion of Alexander Qi to
professional 3 dan. The promotion recognizes his historic victory at the 40th World Youth Go Championship (WYGC), held August 22–25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he became the first player from outside Asia to win the Senior Division title for players under 18.
Organized by the Ing Weiqi Foundation, the WYGC has long been a premier proving ground for young Go talent. Since the Senior Division was established in 1989, every champion until now has come from China, South Korea, or Taiwan—countries renowned for their deep-rooted Go traditions and professional training systems.
“This is an incredible moment not just for Alex, but for the entire Western Go community,” said NAGF Chair Andrew Okun. “Alex has been a dedicated and talented player for years, and this win is a testament to his hard work, as well as the growth of Go in North America.”
A Go prodigy who began playing at age eight, Qi was certified as a professional 1 dan by the NAGF at the 2022 Pro Qualification Tournament, at just 14 years old. Since then, he has honed his skills in elite international competitions including the Quzhou Lanke Cup, MLILY Cup, Ing Cup, and Chunlan Cup.