Go in Sweden: Meet Johan Bosch

I've seen that many people consider Go to be more of a way of life than a game. What does the game of Go mean to you in a greater sense?

Go is the pinnacle of focus for shaping your thought process; controlling your mind, so to say. It's a nice feeling to be able to bring out the best in yourself but also glimpse the depth you cannot see. It's a journey.

Do you feel that Go in Sweden is as popular as it will ever be, or do you think that the game will experience more trends in the future, and if so, what will it be like 10 years from now?

I think Go will become bigger, although sadly we don't see the boom that was seen when Hikaru No Go - a popular Japanese anime featuring Go - came out, but Go is gaining in popularity. More and more are starting to play, and nowadays the trend is that more younger people are starting to play. Instead of starting as old geezers they start young and learn fast. I think that in 10 years it will be much more known and the level will be much higher.

What do you feel is your greatest weakness in the game?

I lose interest in a game I have the lead in. In Go, losing interest means losing.

I noticed that your Swedish ranking is of 1 kyu despite some of your more notable victories over players ranked various stones above you. Could this be a product of your Achilles' heel?

To some degree yes, but its also because I haven't gone to many Swedish tournaments since I became 1k. My KGS rank is 1 dan and my Oro rank is 2 dan. I think both can be raised to 2 and 3, respectively.

You mention KGS and Oro; what are these rankings to those of us who do not avidly play go?

Kgs is Kiseido Go server and Oro is Orobaduk server. Baduk is the Korean name for Go, so these are 2 different Go servers to play online.

What is your most memorable game?

The most memorable game is hard to say. One memorable game is where I lost a tournament game in the last stone, putting myself in self Atari. It is a constant reminder of how as soon as I'm in the lead, I stop thinking.

Who is your most enjoyable opponent to play against and why?

There are a lot of enjoyable players to play against of all strengths. If I get into the right mind set, all opponents are enjoyable.

So that is to say that you don't have a favorite?

Well, its nice playing against my wife.

Do you and your wife compete against each other; wouldn't that cause tension in your marriage, or is it less competitive and more of a supportive rivalry?

The games are teaching games so there is no tension. I enjoy seeing the progress sometimes - it's not about winning or losing but about the depth of the game.

Is there anything that you've wanted to say to other Go players or those just starting in Go?

The game of Go is a journey; play where you want to play. The initial threshold is high but don't be discouraged - it's a game that gets more beautiful the deeper you see.