Ying Xu’s Go Philosophy — A Life of Moves Without Regret
When you step into Ying Xu’s home in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district, you immediately sense a world shaped by Chinese elegance — classical furniture, ink paintings, flower arrangements, and bonsai. At the center of her living room, between two tall armchairs, rests an elegant Go board. Its intersecting lines reflect the quiet strength of a mind shaped by decades of discipline, strategy, and reflection.
For Ying Xu — a world champion, 5-dan professional Go player, professor, and cultural ambassador — Go has always been more than a game. It is a worldview, a philosophy, and a lifelong practice of placing every move with sincerity.
Her guiding belief is simple:
“In life as in Go, every move should be made without regret.”
A Scene of Harmony: The 2024 Sizhou Cup
At the recently concluded 4th “Sizhou Cup” Hong Kong International Collegiate Go Open in 2024, held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the competition hall was filled with a rare sense of peace.
Players from 11 countries and regions — including mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand — sat quietly over their boards.
They did not quarrel over a single stone or a small gain.
Instead, they navigated vast global positions, coexisting and counterbalancing.
It was a living demonstration of what Ying Xu calls the harmonious essence of Go.
As president of the Hong Kong Greater Bay Area Go Promotion Association, Ying Xu was present throughout the tournament, sharing her insights and her journey with students and media.
From Prodigy to World Champion
Born and raised in Beijing, Ying Xu began learning Go at age eight. Her talent carried her quickly into elite training: first the Beijing women’s team, then the national youth team, and eventually under the mentorship of world champion Ma Xiaochun.
Her career soared, culminating in winning the Women’s World Go Championship in 2001.
Her lively and bold personality made her an iconic on-screen commentator alongside Hua Yigang — a duo fondly remembered by Go fans across China.
Finding a Second Home in Hong Kong
Ying Xu’s connection with Hong Kong began through Go decades ago, but it was during the pandemic — when she lived in Hong Kong long-term — that she truly came to understand and love the city.
“I realized I wanted to do something meaningful for Hong Kong.
Go is what I’m best at — so I hoped to share this culture with more people here.”
In 2023, she founded the Hong Kong Greater Bay Area Go Promotion Association, and launched the inaugural “Sizhou Cup,” which was met with enthusiasm.
The 2024 edition continued that momentum, and she plans to invite even more regions in the future.
Go as Freedom, Equality, and Harmony
Ying Xu believes Go is built on three core values: freedom, equality, and harmony.
A good player must cultivate a broad perspective — looking at the board from above, balancing global and local considerations, avoiding obsession with small gains or losses.
She explains:
“Go is about efficiency — gaining the most territory with the fewest stones.
But it must be done without stepping on others.
Stones must support one another to create true strength.”
This is not just strategy — it is a philosophy for life.
AI and the Human Spirit
AI has transformed the Go landscape, and Ying Xu embraces its impact.
“AI’s depth of calculation is beyond human reach.
It opens our minds and gives us new ideas.”
But she emphasizes what makes human Go irreplaceable:
“Humans have warmth and emotion.
We make mistakes — and that is exactly the charm of Go.”
Just like in life, no one can make perfect decisions.
What matters is how we adjust:
“Some people endure quietly and eventually turn the game around.
That resilience — that’s what Go teaches us.”
Bringing Go Into Academia: A Historic Step
In fall 2024, Ying Xu will teach the first credit-bearing Go course in a Hong Kong university at HKUST — a milestone that brings Go culture further into mainstream education.
Her course goes beyond tactics:
the history of Go
cultural and philosophical meanings
stories of legendary players
Go as art, culture, and intellectual heritage
“Go has lasted thousands of years not because of competition,
but because of culture and aesthetics.
That’s what we will explore deeply in class.”
The Cultural Power of Go
Ying Xu recalls how the China–Japan Go Supermatches of the 1980s — like the era of the Chinese women’s volleyball team — ignited national pride and unity.
These were not just sports events.
They were symbols of cultural strength.
Go still carries that power today, she believes — a power to connect people, shape identity, and inspire.
That is why she works tirelessly across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, building bridges between youth from different regions and promoting Go as a cultural treasure.
A Life Devoted to Go
After decades on the front lines of competition, Ying Xu has shifted her focus from professional play to cultural promotion — but her dedication remains unchanged.
“I started Go at eight.
It became my profession, and I have spent my life doing something I love and excel at.
I am lucky, and I am happy.
Now my role is changing, but as long as Go thrives, I thrive.”
Her life, like her Go, is a reflection of sincerity, resilience, and harmony.
“In this life, I place my stones without regret.”
