On May 2, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Xiaoying's Cup Shanghai Hope Star Go Tournament was held at the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Association, which also added a cheerful and festive atmosphere to the prosperous May Day holiday in Shanghai.
The competition was co-sponsored by the Shanghai Weiqi Association, the Shanghai Yingchangqi Weiqi Education Foundation, and the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Association. On the basis of the previous 8-year-old, 7-year-old and 6-year-old group, this year's 10-year-old, 9-year-old group and women's group have been added, and the new format has attracted more young players, with more than 1,500 young players signing up for the tournament this year.
Founded in 2001, the purpose of the Xiaoying's Cup Competition is to promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture, so that more children can get close to and fall in love with Go, and discover Go seedlings in the competition, so as to reserve successors for Shanghai Go.
The championship trophy is shining. Photo courtesy of the organizing committee
Chang Hao Jiuduan, chairman of the Chinese Go Association and world champion, attended the opening ceremony and sent a message to the young chess players to establish the concept of inheriting the excellent Chinese culture and striving to win glory for the country. He said that as early as 1986, he participated in the national children's Go competition at the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Association, "At that time, I also spoke on stage as a representative of young chess players, and finally won the championship, leaving a precious photo on the big lawn." ”
Chang Hao said that the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Association has always had the foundation for promoting the game of Go, and in addition to playing chess competitions, the path of the brave here has left a deep impact on him, "I remember that my senior brother also fell into the water, his name is Luo Xihe, and we joked about it." ”
Chang Hao, Liu Shizhen and other leaders took a group photo with the young chess players. Photo courtesy of the organizing committee
For professional chess players, the Ying's Cup is held every four years, with the reputation of "Go Olympics", and is the highest-paying, highest-level, and most influential Go tournament in the world today. Chang Hao encouraged the young chess players on the spot to participate in the competition of the Xiaoying's Cup now, and to represent the country in the Ying's Cup in the future, and strive to stand on the highest podium in the world arena.
After the opening ceremony, the young chess players began a tense and fierce game. It is understood that the Xiaoying's Cup will last for more than two months, and will be held successively in the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Association, the Guojin Sports Center and the Shanghai Chess and Card Institute.
The organizing committee said that it will further explore the innovative development of the Xiaoying's Cup Go Competition, so that Go can make greater contributions to the development of Shanghai's children's sports and contribute to the construction of Shanghai's smart city.
The header picture shows the scene of the competition. Photo courtesy of the organizing committee