Xu Jiayang (left) plays against Yu Zhiying during the 5th MLily Cup World Go Open Tournament. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

The 6th MLily Pressure-Relieving Mattress Cup World Go Open Tournament opened in Rugao on May 8, bringing together 390 top Go players from around the world, including nearly 10 world champions and 16 leading seeded players.

Running through May 12, this year's tournament adopts an international qualifying format. While players from Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia earned their spots through regional qualifiers, competitors from other countries and regions gathered in Rugao to compete for places in the main event.

A new veterans division has been introduced for the first time this year. Hua Xueming, a seventh-dan player, former vice-chairperson of the Chinese Weiqi Association, and former leader of China's national Go team, returns to competition after a 21-year absence.

Since its launch in 2013, the MLily Cup has played a key role in promoting women's Go. It was the first world-level Go tournament to establish a dedicated qualification pathway for female players, helping create more opportunities for women in the sport.