Three students from Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province won two world titles, one silver medal, and one bronze medal at the 2026 Renju Youth World Championship, which concluded in Dalian, Liaoning province, on July 9.

The tournament, the top-tier international youth event for the game, attracted nearly 150 renju players — a professional version of gomoku — from six countries and regions, including Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

Third-grader Ye Hongyi won the boys'E division title with six wins in seven rounds, clinching the championship before the final round. He said the fourth-round match was the most challenging, lasting more than an hour against a disciplined opponent.

Third-grader Qiu Yunxu claimed the girls'J division title. She began playing gomoku in first grade through a school club and has mainly trained on online platforms. After finishing near the bottom in her first competition, she steadily improved and ultimately became a world champion.

Ye Hongyi (left) and Qiu Yunxu (right) hold their trophies and pose for a photo. [Photo/Wangchao]

Fifth-grader Sheng Yueyang competed in both the A and C divisions, earning silver in the A division and bronze in the C division. The A division included competitors aged 12 to 25, making him the youngest participant in the field.

Sheng Yueyang (left) poses for a photo. [Photo/Wangchao]