Nagoya:Taiwanese Go players Hsu Hao-hung and Yang Tzu-hsuan achieved a second-place finish at the World Pair Go Championship 2026 held in Nagoya.According to Focus Taiwan, the pair, consisting of Hsu, a 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist, and Yang, a two-time Synmosa Cup Woman Ace Player Tournament champion, were defeated in the final by Japan's Ryo Ichiriki and Rina Fujisawa. This victory awarded the Japanese team the gold medal.Held in the historic setting of Hommaru Palace at Nagoya Castle, the tournament saw Hsu and Yang reach the finals after overcoming South Korea's Shin Min Jun and Kim Eun Ji, followed by a win against China's Wang Xinghao and Yu Zhiying in the semifinals. In the final match, the Taiwanese team played with black stones while the Japanese team used white stones. Despite their efforts, Hsu and Yang were unable to counter the early lead gained by Ichiriki and Fujisawa, who claimed the top prize of 5 million yen (approximately US$31,798).Hsu and Yang took home 2 million yen for their second-place finish. Hsu expressed appreciation for Yang's strategic move during the final, which facilitated his subsequent play. He emphasized the importance of coordination and camaraderie in Pair-Go, as players are prohibited from communicating verbally or through body language during matches.The pair had limited practice time before the competition, but their teamwork improved throughout the tournament. Yang mentioned her initial nervousness and expressed gratitude for Hsu's patience, noting her increased confidence as they progressed. She also expressed a desire to partner with Hsu in future events.The championship was the highlight of the Pair Go World Festival 2026, featuring 16 professional players across eight teams from Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Japan. Alongside the professional matches, the festival included amateur competitions and exhibition games at various locations.