“My Go Journey”

This journey I’m taking, playing Go, has been a very exciting one. I started playing this wonderful game back in January 2020, during the COVID-19 era. At that time, after finishing my tasks, I always felt the urge to play at least a game or two on my phone. I used an app called Crazy Stone: A Game of Go, but it was offline. I could only set ranks between [5k] and [1k], yet it was still hard to even get one win against the AI at those levels. I already knew a bit about ranking and some rules, but later I realized that [5k]–[1k] was not easy at all. From that moment, I became eager to reach the Single Digit Kyu (SDK). So, I played more games on my phone.

I tried playing 10–20 moves, then attempted to memorize and understand the sequence of the game. Afterwards, I would simulate how the AI responded to each move to see if it stayed the same. For example, I set my opponent at 5k and played as Black. After 20 moves, I reset the game and played as White. What struck me the most was that every time I reached the 4th–5th move, the AI answered differently than before. It was frustrating because I couldn’t memorize all the AI’s moves — there were too many variations. From then, I searched about joseki, learned them, and practiced. Eventually, I could win against [5k]–[2k] in the app, but I still couldn’t beat [1k]. They were strong. And when I tried playing against [1D], they were even stronger. I couldn’t understand their responses at all. It was discouraging, but deep inside, I was eager to at least win against a [1D]. Still, it wasn’t easy.

After about a month of playing, I discovered a site where many Go players were active. On February 13, 2020, I signed up on OGS (Online-Go Server). I was very excited to play online. At first, there was a question mark beside my username, indicating I had no official rank yet. So I explored how to play. For my first game, I played against the bot amybot-beginner [17k] in correspondence. I didn’t know how to set the game properly, but I won, which was satisfying. Then I tried a higher rank, amybot-ddk [7k]. I also won, but when I checked the game, the AI review showed many mistakes. It was funny — I just played greedily, trying to surround more territory, invade the enemy, and capture everything. It was fun, but later I realized that wasn’t good strategy. My play wasn’t solid. Still, I kept playing bots until I reached 8k. From there, I finally tried playing against real human opponents. My first human game was against a [5k], and I won.

That was very fulfilling. My rank reached [7k], though not stable — sometimes when I lost, I dropped back to 8k. But in later games, I even defeated [4k] players. Through continuous playing, I achieved the rank of [5k]. I played almost every night because it was the COVID era. I ranked up to [6k] until 2022.

That was when I met Filipino Go players online. I played with them, and after each game, we reviewed together. They pointed out my mistakes, and I admitted them because, to be honest, I didn’t have any real strategy back then other than joseki. From then on, they taught me about making solid shapes and strong groups. They also taught me to play big moves, because they noticed my play was really slow. It was a harsh comment, but honestly, it was commendable. I learned a lot from them. They were Shin Satomi [3D], James de Castro [1k], and a female player who I believe has now reached Dan level — Sunshine Basinang.

It was a great experience playing with them since they became part of my journey. Eventually, I was invited to join the Philippine Go Community, where I met more Go enthusiasts. There were some very active players between 2022–2025, but not more than 20 members in PHGo. Our community even created a yearly online tournament called the Kwago League. I only participated once, in 2023. There was no other Kwago League after that, but we still had small tournaments with fewer than 15 members. Though there were many names in the group chat, only a few played actively.

I reached the rank of [4k] in 2024 and nearly had a breakthrough to [3k], but unfortunately, I never reached [3k] in OGS. The players there are so strong. Now, I’m back at [6k]. Though I continue playing Go, there’s something I still need to learn to achieve that breakthrough. I haven’t figured it out yet. I’m also planning to go abroad and attend a Summer Go Camp to reach Dan level, but right now, I don’t have the funds to travel. For now, I keep playing online, though it’s not enough. It’s hard to review only with AI.

My journey in Go has been full of challenges, lessons, and small victories. From struggling against AI bots during the COVID era to meeting fellow Filipino players who guided me toward better shapes and strategies, every step has shaped me into the player I am today.

Though I haven’t yet reached the breakthrough I’m aiming for, I know this path is far from over. Go is not just about ranks — it’s about growth, patience, and the joy of discovery. Someday, I hope to join a Go camp abroad and reach Dan level, but until then, I’ll keep playing, learning, and sharing my experiences with the community.

This is not the end of my story — it’s only the beginning of a lifelong journey in black and white.