Intl women's weiqi team championship opens in Taizhou

Children play weiqi in Tiantai county, Taizhou. [Photo/Tide News]

The 9th "Tiantai Mountain Tianjing Yunlu Cup" World Women's Weiqi Team Championship opened in Tiantai county, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 19, bringing together top female players from China, Japan, and South Korea for a six-day competition.

Chang Hao, chairman of the Chinese Weiqi Association, said past editions of the event have produced many notable matches, with Tiantai's natural landscape and weiqi (Go) culture providing a distinctive backdrop for international competition. The event also serves as a platform for cultural exchange alongside professional play.

Tiantai county is recognized as China's first "weiqi hometown," with a strong cultural foundation and broad public participation. Weiqi education has been incorporated into school curricula, with around 20,000 students participating annually. Since 1988, the county has produced 11 professional players, including national team coach Yu Bin, ranking among the top counties in China for player output.

The county has hosted national team training facilities and provincial cultural exchange bases for weiqi, reflecting sustained investment in the sport's development.

Alongside the main competition, organizers launched supporting events including a large-scale amateur tournament, teaching sessions led by professional players, and live commentary demonstrations. A 2,000-square-meter weiqi venue has also been put into use, supporting competitions, training, cultural displays, and educational activities.