'Go Sage' Nie Weiping hailed and mourned

China's sports community mourns the passing of Go master Nie Weiping as the country pays tribute to the legendary figure's imperishable contribution to the promotion of the game.

Nie, an icon in the board game of weiqi, also referred as Go, passed way in Beijing at the age of 73 on Wednesday night, according to his family, prompting a wave of tributes to the former honorary president of Chinese Weiqi Association, who was anointed "Weiqi Sage" by fans across the sports community and beyond.

"It is with profound grief that we announce the passing of Nie Weiping, a towering figure in the world of Go, which has saddened the Chinese Go community as a huge loss for the game," an obituary released by Nie's family said.

"His contributions to the game of Go, both as a player and a mentor, have left an indelible mark on the sport and inspired generations of Go enthusiasts worldwide."

Born on Aug 17, 1952, in Shenzhou, Hebei province, Nie demonstrated an early talent for Go as he rose to prominence in the late 20th century, becoming a symbol of Chinese excellence in the strategic board game.

Nie's most celebrated career highlights came during the 1980s, when he played a pivotal role in the early stage of the storied China-Japan super challenge series by helping China secure consecutive wins in the first three editions, bringing massive attention to the game while lifting the whole nation's spirit at a trying time.

Known for his thoughtful approach to the game and finesse in strategy, Nie had committed to conveying the beauty and complexity of Go to audiences of all ages, earning him respect and admiration from his peers, young players, and fans alike.

Former and current Go players, sports celebrities, and notable figures all took to social media to mourn the passing of Nie while paying their tribute to his contributions.

"Master Nie, rest in peace," China's Go prodigy Ke Jie, who's considered one of Nie's proud students, posted on his Weibo account on Thursday.

"He represented an entire generation (of glories achievements of Chinese Go). He was an icon," Hua Xueming, a former president of Chinese Weiqi Association and former manager of Chinese national team, told The Beijing News.

"A legendary figure has passed away," Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Chinese tech company Xiaomi, said on his Weibo. "With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to Master Nie and wish him a peaceful journey."

After winning five national championships in a row, Nie was granted the ninth-dan rank — the highest level in the game's rating system — by the Chinese association in 1982. He then went on to become the head coach of the Chinese national Go team in 1986, having cultivated a group of world champions for the country while popularizing the game for decades to come.

In 1988, Nie was officially awarded the title of "Weiqi Sage" by China's national sports governing body.