This is a freely edited public domain summary of the Finnish go life. Thank you for the original contributors and for the future update editors. -- Vesa 6.10.2006
Last edited: 12th Aug 2011
1. Go Population in Finland#
It is not easy to estimate the number of players that do not participate actively in tournaments, but a good estimate of the Finnish go population might be around 1000 players.
2. Active members (paid members)#
In 2007, the Finnish Go Association had 210 paid members.
3. Go clubs#
There are 20 more or less official clubs in Finland. The clubs organize one or two club evenings in a week and sometimes tournaments too. There are also players living in cities without any official go club. They can meet other go players on the Internet on go servers.
Are you visiting Finland and wondering where Finns play? The page Peli-illat lists all the steady going club nights by day and city. Most if not all are open and welcome foreign players with enthusiasm. Please consider visiting at least one of them!
4. Strongest players#
Top players by rank (according to the official ranking list):
- TÖRMÄNEN Antti 6 dan. Finnish Champion 2008 and 2010, winner of several international tournaments, admitted to study as an insei in 2011
- LAATIKAINEN Vesa 5 dan. Several times Finnish Champion, Nordic Champion and Finnish Kisei.
- SIIVOLA Matti 5 dan. Several times Finnish Champion, Nordic Champion and Finnish Kisei.
- SAVOLAINEN, Javier-Aleksi 5 dan
- KURONEN, Juri 5 dan.
- NIKULA, Miika 5 dan
- several 4 dan players.
5. Competitions and the ranking system#
Ranking system is in Japanese style: from 30 kyu to 1 kyu and then from 1 dan to higher dan levels. On lower kyu ranks, the rankings are not restricted, and clubs are responsible for the ranks of their members. Higher ranks are granted by strong players or specially appointed club members who have ranking rights; a promotion to 7 kyu or better requires support from higher ranked player(s), increasingly so as the level increases. Reaching dan levels requires consistent results in tournaments.
6. Education and promotion#
Go education and promotion has been only on volunteer basis because of lack of funds. The game has become popular thanks to the Internet, some media coverage (but rare) and (perhaps) Hikaru no Go. Also, new players often do their best to teach the game to their friends, with some success. Clubs organize beginners courses now and then. Many of the new players are university students, and student clubs are among the biggest clubs.
7. Finnish Go Association#
The board of the Finnish Go Association consists of president, secretary, treasurer, vice president, and other members of the board, not more than 10 all together. The association is a member of both the European (EGF) and International (IGF) go federations. In addition to acting as an umbrella organization for Finnish Go clubs, the association also coordinates the most important Finnish tournaments: the Finnish Championship tournament series and the Korean Ambassador's Cup.
8. Go history in Finland.#
Helsinki go club was founded in 1979. Ten players participated in the first Finnish championship played in 1981. The Finnish Go Association was founded in 1987. At that time other clubs were starting to appear more actively.
During the 90's, new clubs were started gradually and number of players increased slowly. There began to be a need for a separate qualification tournament before the main championship tournament. Significant increase in players started around 2000. New clubs were founded and, during 2004, over 200 players participated in tournaments.
9. Finnish Go Magazines#
Fifteen editions of Sente magazine were published during 1986 - 2000. After that, Vesa Laatikainen, the author of Sente, has published more go essays on the Internet. There is also the Nordic Go magazine (Nordisk GoBlad), which is published on the Internet. Currently most active net forum in Finland is the Finnish GoWiki http://www.suomigo.net/
10. Go tournaments in Finland#
About 15 national or international level tournaments are organized regularly every year. In addition, many clubs have held local championship tournaments or ranking tournaments, with casual local tournaments taking up most of the intervening weekends. Nearly all the tournaments are open for foreign participants too.
