Nie Weiping competes with South Korea's Cho Hun-hyun in the final of the inaugural Ing Cup in Hangzhou in 1989. [Photo/WeChat account: hangzhouzlyd]

Nie Weiping, honorary chairman of the Chinese Weiqi Association and a central figure in the revival of Chinese Go, passed away on Jan 15 at the age of 73, according to China Media Group and the association.

Widely revered as a national icon of the game, Nie rose to fame in the 1980s by leading China to historic victories in the China-Japan Go challenge matches, defeating multiple top Japanese players and earning the title of Go Saint. Beyond the board, his influence extended deep into Zhejiang province, where he frequently visited and played an active role in promoting mind sports.

Hangzhou, in particular, was the site of many memorable moments in Nie's career. In 1987, at the height of the challenge matches, he visited the Hangzhou Branch of China Qi-Yuan, drawing crowds wherever he went. In 1989, he claimed a decisive victory over South Korea's Cho Hun-hyun in the final of the inaugural Ing Cup, held in Hangzhou. Decades later, despite serious illness, Nie continued to appear at major events, including the National Amateur Go Championship in 2015 and the first Zhisheng Mind Sports Games in 2020.

His final appearances in the city came during the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where he served as a guest commentator for the Go team finals, bridging generations of players and fans.

Through these moments, Hangzhou quietly witnessed Nie's lifelong passion for the game and his enduring commitment to passing it on — leaving behind not only legendary matches, but a lasting spirit of chess in the city.

Nie observes as children play Go. [Photo/WeChat account: hangzhouzlyd]