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Türkiye will host one of Europe's largest go tournaments in 2026, as the ancient East Asian strategy game continues to expand its reach in the country, according to Turkish Go officials.
The European Go Congress, scheduled for July 25-Aug. 28, 2026, will mark a significant milestone for Türkiye's growing go community, said Ahmet Eren Kurter, Secretary General of the European Go Federation and President of the Türkiye Go Association.
"Approximately 4,000 people actively play go in Türkiye," Kurter told Anadolu Agency (AA).
"The 2026 European Go Congress, one of the biggest events in this field in Europe and the world, will take place in Türkiye."
The 4,000-year-old strategy game, which originated in East Asia, became known in Europe in the 1800s and reached Türkiye in the 1980s.
Türkiye now ranks as Europe's fourth-largest Go nation, according to Kurter.
Played with 181 black and 180 white stones on a 19×19 grid board, Go has gained widespread popularity in Türkiye in recent years.
The game has grown through national championships, tournaments, camps and training programs, with participation increasing annually.
Local associations now operate in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Eskisehir, while go groups have formed in cities including Antalya and Canakkale to promote the sport's recognition, Kurter said.
An estimated 10,000 people in Türkiye know how to play go, though about 4,000 participate actively in tournaments, he added.
"Go is spreading rapidly in Türkiye. The young generation is particularly helpful in this regard."
The strategy game has achieved formal recognition at Hacettepe University's Faculty of Sports Sciences, where it is offered as an elective course.
The university will collaborate with the Türkiye Go Association to organize the 2026 European Congress.
Unlike chess, where pieces have different hierarchical values, all go stones hold equal worth, Kurter explained.
"It's a game based on surrounding territory with black and white stones on a board with 19 horizontal and 19 vertical lines. We place stones on the board in turns, and whoever captures the most territory wins."
Go's accessibility spans generations, with no age limitations for players, according to Hulya Eren, treasurer of the Türkiye Go Association. Anyone who can count to four can play the game, she noted.
"The sport appeals to everyone from 7 to 70," Eren said.
"One of our youngest players was 4 years old when he participated in his first tournament. We also have older players in tournaments—you can see a player with completely white hair facing a small child. These scenes make us happy."
The game has also attracted significant interest from women players, Eren added, reflecting go's broad appeal across demographic groups in Türkiye.
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