François Gonze Wins the 2026 Belgian Go Championship Preliminaries Unbeaten
The 2026 Belgian Go Championship preliminaries wrapped up today, closing an exciting stage of competition and setting the field for the next round.
This year’s edition felt special. Many players who had already secured their place in the finals came to watch the games in person, comment on the matches, and follow the action closely. Thanks to this, everyone could enjoy the live commentary on Twitch, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
One of the biggest storylines of the tournament was the return of François Gonze (4 Dan). Making a strong comeback, he dominated the field and claimed the preliminary championship in perfect fashion. Over five rounds, he delivered a flawless performance, finishing the tournament undefeated with five wins out of five.
Another key moment came in round four, where Philippe Tranchida faced Joachim Laloux in a decisive match, Joachim Laloux, the young and rising 3-kyu player, stepped up under pressure and secured the victory, confirming his growing presence among Belgium’s promising Go talents.
Final Results
| Place | Name | Level | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francois Gonze | 4 Dan | 5 |
| 2 | Joachim Laloux | 3 Kyu | 4 |
| 3 | Tranchida Philippe | 1 Dan | 3 |
| 4 | Guillaume De Keijser | 2 Kyu | 2 |
| 5 | Teirlinck Laurens | 2 Kyu | 1 |
| 6 | Silcher Michael | 4 Kyu | 0 |
Next Stage
The top four players from the preliminaries will now advance to the final stage of the championship. There, they will join Kevin, Jan, Lucman and Yannick, who were already qualified.
The final stage of the 2026 Belgian Go Championship will take place on 16–17 May, where the country’s strongest players will battle it out for the national title.
Links
All Twitch comments: https://www.twitch.tv/belgiangofederation