Go's popularity makes it a cultural bridge in Turkiye

ANKARA — Once little known in Turkiye, the traditional Chinese board game Go, known by its Chinese name Weiqi, is gaining remarkable popularity as a cultural bridge between Turkiye and China. With roots stretching back thousands of years, Go is now being rediscovered by a new generation of Turkish players drawn to its depth, elegance, and cultural heritage.

"There has been a significant rise in interest recently," Eren Kurter, president of the Turkish Go Association, told Xinhua. "Playing Go is becoming more common among university students, especially as Chinese culture is becoming more widespread in Turkiye, from music to films and now traditional games like Go."

One especially popular initiative is a robot that plays Go — a particular hit among children — which Kurter says has become an effective educational tool.

Beyond the classroom, Go is making its mark in academia. The prestigious Hacettepe University in Ankara will co-host the European Go Congress in the summer of 2026, which is expected to bring around 1,500 players from across Europe and China to Turkiye for the first time.

"We're organizing it with Hacettepe University at their campus. Many professional Go players from China will attend," Kurter said.

For Cagatay Tavsanoglu, a professor of biology at Ankara's Hacettepe University and a longtime Go enthusiast, the appeal of the game lies not only in its depth, but in its profound cultural value.

"When you look at its history, you see all the complexities of Chinese civilization, warfare strategies, philosophy, and societal changes. That's what draws people in," he said.

"Compared to other games, Go has a unique historical and strategic foundation," he said, noting that playing Go gives Turkish players a chance to experience a different worldview, one rooted in Eastern philosophy.

"We come from a Western-style educational system, but through Go, we get to explore Chinese thought. It opens a new window for us," he said.

Go has also fostered greater personal and academic ties between China and Turkiye. For young people like Yigitcan Cortuk, a graduate student and Go enthusiast, the game has influenced his life choices, including his decision to pursue studies in China. "I've been playing Go for five years, and during that time, my interest in Chinese culture grew," he told Xinhua.

"Go really deepened my affection for Chinese culture. It's not just a game. It introduced me to a whole new world of meaning."

Cortuk said Go helped him appreciate the broader value of Chinese civilization, from literature to diplomacy. "People have written books about it for centuries. Generals and statesmen played it."

This sense of cultural bonding through Go is echoed by many in Turkiye's growing community of players. The game is no longer a niche hobby but a shared experience that creates connections across borders, generations, and ideologies.

"Go creates bonds between individuals," said Tavsanoglu. "It's a kind of coexistence culture. Anatolian culture actually shares some of the same values of patience, strategy and introspection. We've rediscovered that connection."

With Turkiye now among the top five countries in Europe in terms of active Go players, experts believe there is strong potential for deepening interactions with China in this field, through joint training programs, tournaments and cultural exchanges.

"As China's cultural influence grows in Turkiye, Go is following the same path," Kurter said, adding that the ancient game is not just a pastime, but a symbol of mutual understanding.

"Go helps people explore themselves, to find inner depth," Tavsanoglu said. "That's very much connected to Chinese culture."

Xinhua