North American professionals scored an impressive 3–1 record in the opening round of the 2026
INAF Cup on June 15, with Michael Chen 2P delivering the biggest surprise of the day by defeating Japan's Koki Fujii 3P in a dramatic comeback victory.
Sponsored by the Iwamoto North American Foundation (INAF) and jointly organized by the North American Go Federation and the Nihon Ki-in, the tournament pairs four North American professionals against four young Japanese professionals in a single-elimination format.
Chen entered the match as a clear underdog. Fujii, one of Japan's rising young stars, came into the tournament with strong recent results and a significantly higher international rating.
"I did not have high hopes for my chances of winning," Chen admitted in a post-game video review. "But as a professional, you always want to play the strongest players you can."
Playing Black, Chen found himself under heavy pressure throughout the opening and early middle game. By move 60, AI analysis gave White a double-digit point advantage, while Fujii had used only a fraction of his allotted main time.
Despite the difficult position, Chen gradually found opportunities to complicate the game and chip away at White's lead. A series of sente moves in the center and effective use of aji from a seemingly dead group allowed him to claw his way back into contention.
The game took another dramatic turn when a summer thunderstorm briefly knocked out power at Chen's home, forcing him to reconnect during byo-yomi. After returning to the game, Chen settled into a close endgame and ultimately emerged with an approximately 11-point victory after Fujii resigned.
"The opponent was clearly much stronger than I am," Chen said. "I'm just very happy that I was able to play one good game."
Chen's victory was part of a surprisingly strong performance by the North American contingent. Bill Lin 1P and Alexander Qi 3P also advanced, guaranteeing that at least one North American player will reach the championship match.
That result ensures the final will be played live at the 2026 US Go Congress in Boston. Under tournament rules, if no North American player reaches the final, the championship match would instead be held in Japan.
The semifinals are scheduled for June 21.