The 25th International Istanbul Go Tournament was played on 10 and 11 October at the Çengelköy campus of Doğuş University in Istanbul. A total of 130 players from eight countries took part in five rounds under the McMahon system. Most players came from Türkiye, joined by players from Croatia, Romania, France, Bulgaria, Sweden, the United States and Pakistan. The tournament was a Bonus C event of the EGF Grand Prix 2026 and also counted as a first class tournament in the Turkish national playoff system.

Stjepan Medak 6d from Zagreb won the tournament with five wins from five games. His round 4 game against Ulaş Ören 6d from Istanbul, played on board one, decided the title. Ören finished second with four wins and lost only to Medak. Six players ended on three wins and the same McMahon score, so tie breaks decided places three to eight. Altan Kuntay 4d from Denizli came out on top of them in third place, followed by Roko Crvelin 4d from Zagreb in fourth and Hataycan Özgür 3d from İzmir in fifth.

Final top five:

1. Stjepan Medak, 6d, Croatia, 5 wins
2. Ulaş Ören, 6d, Türkiye, 4 wins
3. Altan Kuntay, 4d, Türkiye, 3 wins
4. Roko Crvelin, 4d, Croatia, 3 wins
5. Hataycan Özgür, 3d, Türkiye, 3 wins

Medak was one of four players with a perfect score. The others were Tufan Baran Ilicali (7k), Güney Barsbey (20k) and Derya Kaptan (30k).

In-seong Hwang 8 dan, founder of the Yunguseng Dojang, visited the tournament again this year. He gave a lecture on both mornings and held game review and question sessions during the weekend. All players received a tournament bag, and Kifu Master and Go Magic supported the tournament with coupon prizes.

Special prizes were presented at the closing ceremony, where a total of 30 players received prizes. Doğukan Sarıkaya (1k) received the Fighting Spirit medal: he took four wins and fought hard against three dan players. The Young Stars prizes went to Güney Barsbey (20k) with five wins, and to Nilde Yıldız (20k), Ege Üner (20k) and Andrei Luca Heermeryck (1k) with four wins each. Women Stars medals were awarded to Ariane Ougier (5d) as the strongest woman player, Seval Altuğ (1d) as the strongest Turkish woman player, and Lidia Agafitei (3k) and Elena Otilla Tarita Cimpeanu (12k) as the most successful women players.

Since it was the 25th edition, there was also an anniversary cake for everyone. Many players met again in Kadıköy for dinner afterwards.

The tournament was organised by the Istanbul Go Players Association, with Doğaç Köse as chief referee and Barkın Çelebican in charge of the pairings. It was sponsored by Doğuş University and the Doğuş University Mind Games Club, with the support of the Istanbul Go School and the Turkish Go Association. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who helped to make the 25th edition a success.

Full results: istanbulgo.org

Photos: Seda Çelebican