Go players

A list of well-known champion players of the game of go along with some promising youngsters and amateurs. As is standard in go, players' peak rank is listed.

* Japan Honinbo Sanetsu (本因坊道悦, 1611 - 1658) 8p, was the second Honinbo.
* Japan Honinbo Dosaku (本因坊道策, 1645 - 1702) 9p, was one of the greatest players of the Edo period, and the first Japanese go saint; an important influence on go theory.
* Japan Honinbo Doteki (本因坊道的, 1669 - 1690) 7p, was the first Go prodigy.
* Japan Honinbo Dochi (本因坊道知, 1690 - 1727) 8p, was a disciple of Dosaku.
* Japan Honinbo Satsugen (本因坊察元, 1733 - 1788) 8p, was the seventh Meijin and ninth Honinbo.
* Japan Honinbo Genjo (本因坊元丈, 1775 - 1832) 8p, was the eleventh Honinbo.
* Japan Honinbo Jowa (本因坊丈和, 1787 - 1847) 8p, was famous for the "Blood Vomiting Game" with Akaboshi Intetsu.
* Japan Ota Yuzo (太田雄蔵, 1807 - 1856) 7p, was a close friend of Shusaku and once played a famous sanjubango with him.
* Japan Honinbo Shusaku (本因坊秀策, 1829 - 1862) 7p, was one of the greatest players of castle go during the 19th century "golden age" of go, and the player most recommended to apprentice professionals to study.
* Japan Honinbo Shuho (本因坊秀甫, 1838 - 1886) 8p, was the founder of Hoensha and the man who taught Go to Otto Korschelt.
* Japan Honinbo Shuei (本因坊秀栄, 1854 - 1907) 9p, was the 17th and again 19th head of the Honinbo house. Very active and innovative in the 1890s.
* Japan Honinbo Shusai (本因坊秀哉, 1874 - 1940) 9p, was the last inheritor of "Honinbo" title, and founder of the Nihon Ki-in.
* Japan Segoe Kensaku (瀬越憲作, 1889 - 1972) 9p, was famous for bringing and teaching Go Seigen and Cho Hunhyun in Japan.
* Japan Hashimoto Utaro (橋本宇太郎, 1907 - 1994) 9p, was the founder of the Kansai Ki-in.
* Japan Kitani Minoru (木谷実, 1909 - 1975) 9p, was a great friend and rival to Go Seigen. Go and Kitani were the vanguard of the Shin-fuseki or "New Opening", a great advance in go theory. Most prolific teacher ever. Pupils include Masao Kato, Ishida Yoshio, Otake Hideo, Kim In, Cho Chikun, Takemiya Masaki and Kobayashi Koichi.
* Japan Shimamura Toshihiro (島村俊廣, 1912 - 1991) 9p.
* Japan Miyashita Hidehiro (1913 - 1976) 9p.
* Japan Handa Dogen (半田道玄, 1914 - 1974) 9p.
* People's Republic of China Japan Go Seigen (呉清源, Wu Qingyuan in Chinese, born 1914) 9p, is considered by many the greatest player of the 20th century. He had a superb match play record, before the current era dominated by annual titles.
* Japan Takagawa Kaku (高川格, 1915 - 1986) 9p, one of the greatest players of the 50's.
* Japan Fujisawa Hosai (藤沢朋斎, 1919 - 1993) 9p, one of the greatest players of the 60's.
* Japan Sakata Eio (坂田栄男, born 1920) 9p, his nicknames include "Razor Sakata", the "Master of myoushu" (brilliant move). He was the former longtime holder of most championship titles with 64.
* Japan Kubouchi Shuchi (窪内秀知, born 1920) 9p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in.
* Japan Sakai Toshio (1920 - 1983) 6p.
* Japan Suguichi Masao (杉内雅男, born 1920) 9p, nicknamed "the God of Go".
* South Korea Cho Namchul (born 1923) 9p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Sato Sunao (1924 - 2004) 9p.
* Japan Fujisawa Hideyuki (藤沢秀行, born 1925) 9p, is Honorary Kisei after winning the Kisei 6 times in a row.
* Japan Ohira Shuzo (大平修三, 1930 - 1998) 9p.
* Japan Miyamoto Naoki (宮本直毅, born 1934) 9p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in.
* Japan Hashimoto Shoji (僑本昌二, born 1935) 9p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-In.
* Japan Koyama Yasuo (1937 - 2000) 9p.
* South Korea Kang Cheol-min (1939 - 2002) 8p.
* Japan Tono Hiroaki (born 1939) 9p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in.
* Japan Kudo Norio (工藤紀夫, born 1940) 9p, current President for the International Go Federation. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Ishii Kunio (石井邦生, born 1941) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* Republic of China Japan Rin Kaiho (林海峰, born 1942) 9p, was one of Go Seigen's students. Known for winning many titles at a young age. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* South Korea Kim In (김인, 金寅, born 1943) 9p, was one of Korea's best Go players before Cho-Hunhyeon became a professional. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Hane Yasumasa (羽根泰正, born 1944) 9p, father of Hane Naoki.
* People's Republic of China Chen Zude (陈祖德, born 1944) 9p, is a Chinese Go player who was active during the 60's and 70's. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Honda Kunihisa (本田邦久, born 1945) 9p.
* Japan Kato Masao (加藤正夫, 1947 - 2004) 9p, was the master of the attacking style, who died on December 30, 2004.
* South Korea Ha Chanseok (born 1948) 8p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Ishida Yoshio (石田芳夫, born 1948) 9p, is the youngest ever Honinbo winner and one of the strongest players of the 1970s. TV commentator. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Miyazawa Goro (宮沢吾朗, born 1949) 9p.
* Japan Awaji Shuzo (淡路修三, born 1949) 9p, famous for his Go school. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Ishida Akira (石田章, born 1949) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* South Korea Jimmy Cha (born 1951) 4p.
* Japan Takemiya Masaki (武宮正樹, born 1951) 9p, is famous for his 'cosmic style', aiming for territory in the center of the board rather than the sides. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Kobayashi Koichi (小林光一, born 1952) 9p, has the third most titles in Japan with 57. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Nie Weiping (聂卫平, born 1952) 9p, was one of the world's top players from the 1980s. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* South Korea Cho Hunhyun (조훈현, 曺薰鉉, born 1953) 9p, is perhaps the second strongest player in the world, after his former pupil Lee Changho. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Japan Cho Chikun (조치훈 ; 趙治勳, Cho Chihun in Korean, born 1956) 9p, is among the best players of the late 20th century - passed Sakata in late 2002 for most titles in Japan with 66. Current holder of the Judan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Seo Bongsoo (born 1957) 9p, was Cho Hunhyun's biggest rival in the 80's. Known for his excessive list of runner up titles. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* People's Republic of China United States Mingjiu Jiang (born 1957) 7p. Affiliate of the American Go Association.
* Japan Yamashiro Hiroshi (山城宏, born 1958) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Republic of China Japan O Rissei (王立誠, born 1958) 9p, one of the first Taiwanese Go players to become a professional in Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Kataoka Satoshi (片岡聡, born 1958) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Kobayashi Satoru (小林覚, born 1959) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Liu Xiaoguang (刘小光, born 1960) 9p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Republic of China Japan O Meien (王銘琬, born 1961) 9p, famous for his "Meien-isms", a special way of opening a game. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Cao Dayuan (曹韩, born 1962) 9p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China South Korea Zhujiu Jiang (born 1962) 9p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* People's Republic of China South Korea Rui Naiwei (芮乃伟, born 1963) 9p, First woman to attain rank of 9-dan. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* United States Japan Michael Redmond (マイケル・レドモンド, born 1963) 9p, is the first non-Asian (American) to attain rank of 9-dan. TV commentator for the Japanese network NHK. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Ma Xiaochun (马晓春, born 1964) 9p, is one of the top players in China from late 1990s. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Yoda Norimoto (依田紀基, born 1966) 9p, has one of the best track records in international tournaments for Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Yoo Changhyuk (유창혁 ; 劉昌赫, born 1966) 9p, is considered the third strongest in the world. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Imamura Toshiya (今村俊也, born 1966) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Feng Yun (丰云, born 1966) 9p, Second woman ever attain rank of 9-dan. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Qian Yuping (born 1966) 9p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Yu Bin (俞斌, born 1967) 9p, currently holds the Qisheng, Qiwang, and New Sports Cup. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Komatsu Hideki (小松英樹, born 1967) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Aoki Kikuyo (青木, born 1968) 8p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Hans Pietsch (1968 - 2003) 6p, was unfortunately murdered in 2003. Known for spreading Go around the world.
* Japan Mimura Tomoyasu (三村智保, born 1969) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Morita Michihiro (森田道博, born 1970) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Japan Cho Sonjin (조선진, born 1970) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Japan Ryu Shikun (류시훈, 柳時熏, born 1971) 9p, one of the better Korean players in Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Yamada Kimio (山田規三生, born 1972) 9p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Yuki Satoshi (結城聡, born 1972) 9p, the third youngest player to become a professional, and second youngest professional for the Kansai Ki-in. He currently holds the Ryusei. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-In.
* Romania Japan Catalin Taranu (タラヌ・カタリン, born 1973) 5p, is one of Romania's best players and a pro in Japan. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Yukari Umezawa (梅澤由香里, Umezawa Yukari, born 1973) 5p, is the Go player who supervised the production of the manga Hikaru no Go. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Shao Weigang (邵孙维刚, born 1973) 9p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Sakai Hideyuki (坂井秀至, born 1973) 8p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in.
* Japan Nakamura Shinya (仲邑信也, born 1973) 8p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* Japan Kato Atsushi (加藤充志, born 1974) 8p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* South Korea Yi Chang-ho (이창호 ; 李昌鎬, Yi Chang-ho (also written as Lee Changho), born 1975) 9p, is generally considered the strongest player in the world. He currently is the holder of the Chunlan Cup, Wangwi, Guksu, Sibdang Cup, Electron-Land Cup, and KBS Cup. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Choi Myung-Hoon (born 1975) 9p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* People's Republic of China Chang Hao (常昊, born 1976) 9p, is the current holder of the Ing Cup. Ranked 9th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Zhou Heyang (周鹤洋, born 1976) 9p, is the current holder of the Chang-ki Cup. Ranked 3rd in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Takao Shinji (高尾紳路, born 1976) 9p, is the current Honinbo. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Hane Naoki (羽根直樹, born 1976) 9p is the current holder of the NHK Cup. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Republic of China Japan Han Zenki (ハンゼンキ, born 1977) 7p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in
* People's Republic of China Luo Xihe (罗洗河, born 1977) 9p, is the current holder of the Samsung Cup and CCTV Cup. Ranked 6th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Wang Lei (王磊, born 1977) 8p, is the current Xinan Wang. Ranked 7th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Japan Mizokami Tomochika (溝上知親, born 1977) 7p, is one of the best players in his age group. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Yamashita Keigo (山下敬吾, born 1978) 9p, has a spectacular and innovative style harking back to shinfuseki. Current holder of the Kisei. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Japan Kim Shushun (김수준, 金秀俊, born 1979) 7p, the current holder of the Shinjin-O. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea An Choyoung (born 1979) 9p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Hungary Csaba Mérõ (born 1979) 6d amateur from Hungary.
* People's Republic of China Japan So Yokoku (蘇耀国, born 1979) 8p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* People's Republic of China Ding Wei (born 1979) 8p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* Russia South Korea Alexandre Dinerchtein (born 1980) 1p, is the first ever Russian professional Go player. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Romania Dragos Bajernu (born 1980) 6d amateur from Romania.
* South Korea Mok Jin-seok (목진석, 睦鎭碩, born 1980) 9p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Republic of China Zhou Junxun (周中华崇, born 1980) 9p, is the current holder of the Tianyuan and Wangjia. Affiliate of the Taiwan Qiyuan
* Republic of China Japan Cho U (張栩, Zhang Xu in Chinese, born 1980 in Taiwan) 9p, is the current holder of the Meijin and Oza. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* Japan Kono Rin (河野臨, born 1981) 8p, is the current holder of the Tengen. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Huang Yizhong (born 1981) 6p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China United States Jie Li (born 1981) 9d. Amateur player from the American Go Association.
* People's Republic of China Japan Ko Reibun (孔令文, born 1981) 5p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* South Korea Cho Hanseung (born 1982) 8p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* People's Republic of China Kong Jie (港捷, born 1982) 7p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Qiu Jun (邱峻, born 1982) 7p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Tang Li (唐莉, born 1982) 1p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Hu Yaoyu (胡耀宇, born 1982) 8p, is ranked 4th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Gu Li (古力, born 1983) 7p, is the current holder of the LG Cup, China-Korea New Pro Wang, China-Korea Tengen, China-Japan Agon Cup, Mingren, Tianyuan, NEC Cup (China), and Ahan Tongshan Cup. Ranked number 1 in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* South Korea Lee Sedol (이세돌; 李世乭, born 1983) 9p, is the current holder of the World Oza and Maxim Cup. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Park Jungsang (born 1984) 5p, is the current holder of the Fujitsu Cup and Fighting God League. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Seto Taiki (瀬戸大樹, born 1984) 6p. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in.
* People's Republic of China Xie He (谢赫, born 1984) 5p, is ranked 5th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Liu Xing (刘星, born 1984) 6p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Wang Xi (王檄, born 1984) 5p, is the current Liguang Cup and National Sports Mass Meeting holder. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* South Korea Hong Minpyo (born 1984) 5p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Park Seunghyun (born 1984) 5p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Choi Cheol-han (최철한, 崔哲澣, born 1985) 9p, is the current holder of the Zhonghuan Cup and GS Caltex Cup. Ranked number 1 in South Korea.
* South Korea Park Young-Hoon (박영훈 [朴永訓] born 1985) 9p, is a young and established Korean go professional. He has reached 9 dan after just 5 years. He is the youngest Korean 9p ever. He currently holds the Kisung, Prices Information Cup, and Yeongnam Ilbo Cup. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Republic of China Chen Shien (born 1985) 5p, is the current holder of the Donggang Cup and Zhonghuan Cup. Affiliate of the Taiwan Qiyuan.
* South Korea Kim Dong Hee (born 1985) 2p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Anzai Nobuaki (安斎伸彰, born 1985) 4p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-in.
* South Korea Won Seong-jin (born 1985) 7p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Song Tae Kon (송태곤, 宋泰坤, born 1986) 7p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Heo Young-ho (born 1986) 5p, is the current holder of the BC Card Cup. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* South Korea Ko Geuntae (고근태, 高根台, born 1987) 3p, is the current holder of the Chunwon title. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Republic of China Japan Ko Iso (黄翊祖, born 1987) 7p. Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* South Korea Yun Jungsang (born 1987) 4p. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Iyama Yuta (井山裕太, born 1988) 7p. Became the youngest title holder ever in 2005 after winning the Agon Cup (Japanese title). Affiliate of the Nihon Ki-In.
* People's Republic of China Piao Wenyao (born 1988) 5p. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Chen Yaoye (陳耀燁, born 1989) 5p, is the current holder of the National Go Individual. Ranked 14th in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* People's Republic of China Li Zhe (李喆, born 1989) 4p, is the current Xinren Wang. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.
* South Korea Kang Dongyun (born 1989) 4p, is the current holder of the SK Gas Cup and Osram Cup. Affiliate of the Hanguk Kiwon.
* Japan Murakawa Daisuke (村川大介, born 1990) 3p, is the youngest Kansai Ki-in pro ever. Affiliate of the Kansai Ki-in
* People's Republic of China Zhou Ruiyang (born 1991) 3p, is the youngest challenger of the Tianyuan title in China. Affiliate of the Zhongguo Qiyuan.