Lingyin Temple hosts the championship match of the 15th Annual Ahan Tongshan Cup Go Competition (Standard Byoyomi format)

Daisuke Murakawa of Japan opens with black stone

 Championship match held at Lingyin Temple’s Liandeng Pavilion

 Live coverage of the competition from Abbot’s Quarters

 Lingyin Temple’s Dharma Masters following the match closely

December 3, 2013 Lingyin Temple hosted the championship match of the 15th Annual Ahan Tongshan Cup Go Competition (Standard Byoyomi format) with China’s Lian Xiao victorious in end game against Japan’s Daisuke Murakawa. The event was produced with the China Association For Friendly Internation Contact, CCTV, and Hangzhou Lingyin Temple with a final showdown between Japan’s Daisuke Murakawa (7th degree) and China’s Lian Xiao (4th degree) on the Second Floor of Lingyin Temple’s Liandeng Pavilion. CCTV provided the live broadcast from the Abbot’s Quarters of Lingyin Temple with commentary by Wang Yuan (8th degree Go player) and Mao Yuheng, Coach of Lingyin Temple’s Go Association. With a studio audience of go enthusiasts and visitors, Chinese Champion Lian Xiao emerged victorious (11-4) marking the 11th consecutive victory for China. Lian Xiao honorably moved up in skill rank to 7th degree upon this victory.

 Champion Lian Xiao (Left), Second Place Daisuke Murakawa (Right)

 Lingyin Temple’s Abbot Guangquan with Japan’s Champion Daisuke Murakawa

 Abbot Guangquan addresses the reception on behalf of Lingyin Temple

Group photo of reception event

The welcoming reception prior to the match was permeated with a warm atmosphere of excitement and passion for the famed tournament. Abbot Venerable Guangquan opened the reception with a warm welcome for the honored guests and great talents of the go world. He discussed the extensive cultural history for the board game of go in Hangzhou and Lingyin Temple while elaborating on the progression of Lingyin Temple's Go Association, as well as the significance of preserving the vibrant Chan Buddhist culture of go. With the emphasis for the Chan atmosphere free of benefits and desires, Abbot Guangquan concluded the welcoming address with best wishes for the two finalists of this international tournament--one from Japan and one China.

The 'Ahan Tongshan Cup' is an international go tournament originally sponsored by the Japanese Buddhist way place, Agon Shū. Since 1999, the open invitational boasted this China and Japan segment which the champions from the two respective countries showdown in a friendly match. The current co-producers for this segmented event are China Association For Friendly International Contact, CCTV, and China Qiyuan (an official agency responsible for board games and card games such as go, bridge, chess and Chinese chess affairs under the All-China Sports Federation of the People's Republic of China).

From the first Ahan Tongshan Cup China Japan Go Competition in 1999, this event featured both the professional and recreational fields. However, in the 2001 third annual tournament, the recreational players were said to have came out like gangbusters, surprising professional players along the way only to repeatedly dominate the competition and baffle everyone involved. What happened in that tournament resulted in a drastic change for this event. In order to recognize the tremendous talent and skill involved in such international feat, the China Qiyuan that governs the event will officially award the skill rank of 7th degree to the player upon this great achievement, regardless of the field or country from which the player entered (this applies also to the Korean segment of this event). The tournament had thus become the desired stage not only for professionals, but for the young and blossoming players, as well as for the unknown folk masters of the go world.