Kansai Seien Pair Go Tournament
Two players to a side, four people around one board, and a handicap system that lets a beginner and a dan player sit down together without it being a mismatch.
Outline
The details
- Date
- Saturday 16 January 2027 — reception opens 9:15
- Venue
- Igo Club Ranka
17F, Osaka Ekimae Dai-3 Building, 1-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0001 - Format
- Pair go, two players per team, Swiss-system league. 80 minutes per game; clocks are used in every class
- Classes
- Top class (open) / Dan class / Kyu class — 16 pairs in each
- Entry fee
- ¥4,400 per pair (¥2,200 per person)
- Who can enter
- Entry is by pair only. Professional players and same-gender pairs are both welcome. If you apply on your own, we will find you a partner. (A pair of two professional players is the one combination we cannot accept.)
- Entry deadline
- Thursday 31 December 2026
- Payment
- Bank transfer in advance
- Frequency
- Twice a year is planned
Class
How we keep the games even
Each pair is given a “pair point” score based on the two players’ strength. That score decides the class and the handicap, so a beginner and a strong player can enter together and still have a real game.
Top class
Open. No strength restriction. Professional players may enter.
16 pairs
Dan class
For dan-level pairs. Pair point of +1 or above.
16 pairs
Kyu class
For kyu-level pairs. Pair point of 0 or below.
16 pairs
How the pair point is worked out
Convert each player’s strength into the points in the table below, then add the two together and divide by two. A 3-dan (3 pt) paired with a 1-kyu (0 pt) gives (3 + 0) ÷ 2 = 1.5.
| Rank | Professional | Amateur title holder | Prefectural representative / passed the Kansai Ki-in Pro-Am Open qualifier | 5-dan | 4-dan | 3-dan | 2-dan | 1-dan | 1-kyu | 2-kyu | 3-kyu | 4-kyu | 5-kyu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 12 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −4 |
The table scrolls sideways.
Games in the dan and kyu classes are played with a handicap derived from the pair point, up to a maximum of five stones. A drawn position counts in favour of the player to move. Strength is self-declared, so please declare it accurately.
Pair Go
What pair go is
Pair go is played two against two. Four people sit around a single board, one pair taking Black and one taking White, and the partners alternate moves.
Within each pair, the younger player is the “captain” and normally plays first. The one exception is when White has the opening move: then the Black captain plays fourth.
Order of play
- Even game or one-stone
(no handicap stones) - Black captain (younger) → White captain (younger) → Black (older) → White (older)
- Two stones or more
(with handicap stones) - White captain (younger) → Black (older) → White (older) → Black captain (younger)
Partners may not confer or advise each other during the game — the only exceptions are agreeing to resign and checking whose turn it is. Playing without discussion is the point: half the pleasure is reading what your partner was trying to do.
Timetable
On the day
- 9:15
- Reception opens
- 9:45–10:00
- Opening ceremony and briefing
- 10:00–13:00
- Rounds 1 and 2, by class
- 14:00–17:00
- Rounds 3 and 4, by class (teaching games and friendly games open)
- 17:10–17:30
- Prize-giving
- 18:00–20:00
- Social gathering (optional, book in advance)
Options
Optional extras
All of these are optional and charged separately from the entry fee.
Teaching game
Available to players who are free between rounds, and to pairs who have lost twice.
Lunch
A bento box, ordered in advance. Choose between the twelve-compartment bento, for people who want to try a little of everything, and the tonkatsu bento, for people who want something substantial.
Social gathering
18:00–20:00 at Igo Club Ranka, the tournament venue. Food with free-flowing drinks.
Prizes
Prizes
- Top class winners
- A pair of tickets to Tokyo Disney Resort or Universal Studios Japan
- Dan class winners
- A dinner voucher for two
- Kyu class winners
- Two gift catalogues
Notes
Before you enter
- Payment is by bank transfer in advance.
- Strength (dan or kyu) is self-declared. A declaration found to be inaccurate may lead to disqualification.
- Conferring with your partner during a game is not allowed, other than agreeing to resign and checking whose turn it is.
- If you cannot attend or will be late on the day, please contact us through our official LINE account.
- Entry fees cannot be refunded once you have applied.
- The tournament is run in Japanese. The go itself needs no language, but announcements, the briefing and the prize-giving are in Japanese.
How to apply has not been finalised yet. We will publish it on this page as soon as it is settled. Until then, please use the contact form and we will let you know when entries open.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the Kansai Seien Pair Go Tournament?
Saturday 16 January 2027, at Igo Club Ranka — 17F, Osaka Ekimae Dai-3 Building, 1-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka. Reception opens at 9:15 and the prize-giving finishes around 17:30. An optional social gathering runs from 18:00 to 20:00.
How much does it cost to enter?
¥4,400 per pair, which works out at ¥2,200 each. Teaching games (¥3,000 per game), lunch (¥1,200) and the social gathering (¥4,000 in advance, ¥5,000 on the day) are charged separately and only if you want them.
What is the entry deadline?
Thursday 31 December 2026. Payment is by bank transfer in advance, and entry fees cannot be refunded.
Can I enter on my own, without a partner?
Yes. Entry is by pair, but if you apply on your own we will find you a partner.
Can professional players enter?
Yes. The top class is open and professionals may enter it. The one combination we cannot accept is a pair made up of two professionals. Kyu-level players are placed in the kyu class by their pair point, so you will not find yourself facing a professional.
I do not speak Japanese. Can I take part?
You can. Go needs no shared language, and the rules are the same as anywhere else. Be aware that the tournament is run in Japanese — the briefing, the announcements and the prize-giving are all in Japanese — so it helps to come with someone who can follow them, or to ask us in advance.
Contact
Get in touch
Questions about the salon, our tournaments, press or sponsorship are all welcome. English is fine.