The 2024 "Confucius Cup" World Xiangqi Open concluded successfully
The 2024 "Confucius Cup" World Xiangqi Open concluded successfully at the UCD Confucius Institute on August13, 2024. This event was organized by the World Xiangqi Federation, hosted by the Irish Xiangqi Association, and supported by the European Xiangqi Federation (EXF) and UCD Confucius Institute. It featured competitions in eight categories, including Men's Team, Women's Team, and Youth Groups (U18, U15, U12). The tournament attracted 17 teams, comprising a total of 63 players from more than a dozen countries and regions, including Ireland, China, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China) Singapore, Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Danmark, and Sweden.
After three days of intense competition, the Chinese team excelled and successfully claimed first place in both the men's and women's team events. The Hong Kong (China) team also performed admirably, securing second place in the men's team event and third place in the women's team event. The Shanghai Chess Academy team took third place in the men's team and second place in the women's team events. In the individual competitions, both the Chinese team and the Hong Kong (China) team dominated the tournament, sweeping all the medals in the men's and women's individual events. Among them, Chinese players Meng Fanrui and Shen Sifan won the men's and women's individual gold medals, respectively. Additionally, German players Micheal Naegler, Karsten Hoffarth, and Joep Nabuurs achieved excellent results, winning the non-Chinese-origin individual gold, silver, and bronze awards.
The youth group competition was equally exciting. After fierce battles, the Chinese player Liu Xinao won the gold medal in the boys' 18-year-old group, while Li Kaiwen from Macao (China) claimed the gold in the girls' 18-year-old group. In the 15-year-old category, Yang Tianhao and Luo Yunxi, who both come from China, won the boys' and girls' individual gold medals, respectively. Jin Changjie, a player selected by the UCD Confucius Institute, secured the silver medal in the boys' 15-year-old group amid stiff competition. In the 12-year-old group battles, young Chinese players Wang Sikai and Lan Linyi won the boys' and girls' gold medals, respectively.
H,E.He Xiangdong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Ireland, attended the closing ceremony along with Zhu Guoping, First Vice President of the World Xiangqi Federation and Director of the Athletic Chess and Cards Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China; Mr. Michael Naegler, Vice Chairman of the World Xiangqi Federation, Executive Chairman of the European Xiangqi Federation; Mr. Xue Zhong, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Xiangqi Federation; Ms. Ouyang Qilin, Director of the Qualification Review Committee of the World Xiangqi Federation; Li Xiaoqiu, an international referee from the Chinese Xiangqi Association; Li Chen, Chairman of the British Xiangqi Association; Professor Wang Liming, Director of the UCD Confucius Institute, Professor Jiangnan Xie, Chinese Director of the UCD Confucius Institute. They presented awards to the winning players.
Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland, this tournament brought together Xiangqi players from around the globe to the picturesque setting of Ireland, fostering friendship and mutual learning through the game. As always, the UCD Confucius Institute provided a platform for international Xiangqi players, promoting friendly exchanges between different cultures and further advancing the global reach and development of Xiangqi.
