Go player Hsu Hao-hung pockets over NT$13 million in 2023

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's top Go player Hsu Hao-hung (許皓鋐) capped off 2023 in style by being awarded numerous bonuses at a Taipei award ceremony, bringing his annual income to more than NT$13 million (US$423,676) in 2023.

Hsu was awarded a total of NT$3.6 million at the HaiFong Go Association ceremony for his success in the Hangzhou Asian Games men's category.

Before Thursday, Hsu had already pocketed over NT$5.8 million in prize money, according to Taiwan Chi Yuan Culture Foundation, as well as a NT$3 million payment from the Sports Administration and another NT$1 million from the CEO of his father's company -- Taiwan Mask Corp. -- leading to him receiving a total of NT$13.4 million over the year.

Lin Wen-po (林文伯), founder of Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. who chairs HaiFong Go Association and chipped in NT$3 million to Hsu's bonus, joked that Hsu's achievement meant he had "half fulfilled" his dreams and that "he now felt as though he could almost retire."

The 72-year-old entrepreneur added that the cherry on top of the cake would be to see a Go player from Taiwan win an international title.

Hsu said he would sponsor the King of Newcomers tournament in 2024 to help cultivate more upcoming Go players.

He had announced his initial plan to fund the tournament in 2022 after winning eight of the nine major pro titles in Taiwan and bagging NT$8.5 million in prize money.

"I can do this because it is within my [financial] capability, but I would not ask other Go players to do the same. The most ideal method would be to have enterprises sponsor tournaments," Hsu, who won six of nine major titles in 2023, told CNA.

Hsu called on Taiwanese Go players to keep an eye on international tournaments and seize any opportunities to showcase the strength of players from Taiwan.

In addition to Hsu, the spotlight on Thursday was also on Lai Jyun-fu (賴均輔) who won the Taiwan Meijin tournament (NT$1.8 million), Hsu Ching-en (徐靖恩) who won the Speed Go Championship and Wang Yuan-jyun (王元均), who won the HaiFong Go Tournament.

Lai's speech after he received his trophy proved to be a tearjerker.

He heaped praise on his mother, who raised him as a single parent and has continuously supported him since he began pursuing his dream in 2012.

"You might not have taught me how to play Go, but you taught me how to be a better person," he said.

Meanwhile, Wang, who first lifted the HaiFong tournament trophy for his first career title in 2013, pointed out that a younger generation, led by Hsu, was on the rise and that 2023 could be key to that.

Wang also said that Hsu Ching-en, who turned 17 on Tuesday, was expected to be key in driving Taiwan Go forward, noting that he won the King of Newcomers in June.

But I think we veterans should look up to Go players in South Korea and 'not go gentle into that good night,' Wang told CNA, adding that he hoped to make it to the podium for another decade.

"In the era of Go AI, I think both young and old Go players can be successful. The juniors are more energetic, but the seniors are more experienced," Wang said.