Sponsored by Ing Foundation
The event took place in Taiwan
in July 1984.
The first ever World Youth Championships were held in July 1984 in Taiwan. The event was the centre of a slight diplomatic rumpus in the Go World. Given the political status of Taiwan, mainland China not surprisingly refused to participate, while the Japanese only decided to take part at the last minute. This they probably regretted since they had difficulty finding a strong team (the schools had not yet broken up in Japan) and the best they could manage was eighth place.
The event was initiated and sponsored by the father figure of Taiwanese Go, C. K. Ing – a wealthy businessman who has lavished a fortune on promoting go in general and his own set of rules in particular. (He also sponsored the European Championships in Porrentruy by donating 250 sets with special bowls for checking that each side starts with 180 stones).
The final line up included 5 Taiwanese, 3 Koreans, 3 Japanese, 3 Europeans, a Brazilian, an American and a Canadian. Entry grades were wide ranging and inconsistent, the players with the highest nominal grades finished 14th and 15th.
Winner of the event was Kim Young Hwan, aged 13, from Korea, who defeated Taiwanese Yang Chia Jung, aged 12, in the final round. Both these two were trainee professionals, but from 1985 the event will exclude all professional players. Lee Chang-Ho from Korea was third, destined to be a top professional too.