Lucman Bounoider Crowned 2026 Belgian Go Champion After Dramatic Final
The 2026 Belgian Go Championship came to an unforgettable conclusion this weekend, with a dramatic final showdown needed to decide the new national champion.
After the opening day, only four players remained: François Gonze (4 dan), Jan Ramon (4 dan), the unbeaten Lucman Bounoider (4 dan), and surprise contender Laurens Teirlinck (2 kyu).
Teirlinck delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament, securing impressive victories against Joachim Laloux (2 kyu) and Guillaume De Keijser (2 kyu) to earn his place among the final four.
A Historic Final
The championship match featured Lucman Bounoider against François Gonze in a high-stakes encounter. With neither player having previously won the national title, the final guaranteed that Belgium would crown a first-time champion.
François Gonze took the first decisive game, forcing the championship into a final playoff match to determine the winner.
For the deciding game, both players brought their sharpest preparation and fighting spirit to the board. The tension remained high throughout the encounter, but when the dust finally settled, it was Lucman Bounoider who emerged victorious, claiming the title of 2026 Belgian Go Champion.
A huge congratulations to Belgium’s newest national champion.
Relive the Games
Live commentaries were available throughout the event, and recordings of the games can still be found through the BGFScribe demo boards on Online Go Server.
The final game can also be viewed here:
Links
Final Game: https://online-go.com/game/87069493 - https://www.twitch.tv/belgiangofederation
Final Results
| Place | Name | Level | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bounoider Lucman | 4 Dan | 5 |
| 2 | Gonze Francois | 4 Dan | 4 |
| 3 | Ramon Jan | 4 Dan | 3 |
| 4 | Teirlinck Laurens | 2 Kyu | 2 |
| 5 | Kuy Yannick | 2 Dan | 1 |
| 6 | De Keijser Guillaume | 2 Kyu | 1 |
| 7 | Tranchida Philippe | 1 Dan | 1 |
| 8 | Laloux Joachim | 2 Kyu | 0 |