The 30th World Amateur Go Championship will be played from May 26th through 30th 2009 in Fukuroi, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan.

The playing venue is the Ecopa Arena. Completed in 2001, the Ecopa Arena is a 4.000 square meters structure situated inside the Ogasayama Sports Park a sports complex that hosted two matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Poster of the 30th WAGC

Participants will be accommodated at Kuretake Inn Kakegawa and Business Hotel Gen Kakegawa.

The championship dates back to 1979, three years before the establishment of the International Go Federation.

30 years ago, 25 players representing 15 countries participated in the 1st championship held in Tokyo. Among them was the famous Chinese champion Nie Weiping, winner with a perfect 8-0 score. The full list of players and countries is here).

This year 70 players from 70 countries are expected to take part in the tournament played using the Swiss system with 8 rounds.
The full list of players and countries is here.

Yuqing Hu, ex world amateur champion, is in the list and he is for sure one of the strongest candidates for this year’s Championship.

This is the brief schedule of the championship;

May 26 – (Tue.)
14:30 ~ 16:00 – Orientation

Ecopa Arena

17:30 ~ 18:00 – Press Conference
18:30 ~ 20:30 – Opening Ceremony and Reception

May 27~30 – (Wed. ~ Sat.)
9:00 ~ 12:30 – Morning Round
14:00 ~ 17:30 – Afternoon Round

May 30 – (Sat.)
18:30 ~ 19:30 – Closing Ceremony

May 31 – (Sun.)
10:00 ~ 12:00 – Exchange Event

The General Meeting of the International Go Federation will be held as usual the day before the competition starts (May 26, 16:00 ~ 17:00) .

The detailed schedule can be downloaded here.