The impressive progress of six-year-old prodigy Liao Xingwen at MSO4 continues. In the main Open event, which attracted four 7-dans, he finished eighth, but in the process defeated the current British No. 2 Des Cann 4-dan, another experienced British 4-dan, Francis Roads, and British 3-dan Andrew Grant.

He lost only to a 6-dan and two 7-dans. His go mother Liu Yajie said Xingwen has improved noticeably since he arrived in London, and ascribes this to a sudden growth of confidence. The Open, six rounds from 23-25 August 2000, was won by former Chinese professional 5-dan Guo Juan, now playing as amateur 7-dan out of Holland. She won £2000. In second place (£1200) was Zhang Shutai 7-dan, a Chinese eye doctor who has worked for a long time in London. Joint third (£650) were Lee Hyuk of Korea, currently resident in Russia, and Du Jingyu, yet another Chinese 7-dan who lives in Braunschweig, Germany.

Open Gold medalist Guo Juan

Fifth, and the only player to break the Asian hegemony in the top eight, was current Dutch No. 2 Geert Groenen 6-dan. Following him was the mastermind behind the Handtalk program, Professor Chen Zhixing 5-dan, and then Lu Jinqiang, also 5-dan from China. Then came little Liao, who started the week as 2-dan but who was entered at 4-dan (and thoroughly justified it). He finished ahead of British champion Matthew Macfadyen 6-dan, who did at least beat him in Round 1.

Other prize winners in the lower ranks were Paul Margetts 2-dan, Andrew Morris 1-kyu and Tom Cooper 15-kyu.

In the Rapid-play Tournament on 26 August Xingwen was somewhat out of sorts. It was the first day he had not scoffed an enormous English breakfast (4 rashers of bacon, two fried eggs, mushrooms, toast), and he looked visibly tired. He lost his first three games to Guo Juan 7-dan, Simon Shiu 4-dan (by 3.5 points) and Alex Selby 3-dan - the Empire strikes back! - before overcoming Tim Hunt 2-dan and Bruno Bouzy 3-dan. In the last round he lost top compatriot Wang Xiangdong 4-dan.   Rapid-play Gold medalist Mun Il-to

This event was the strongest ever held on British territory, with five 7-dans. Winner, with a perfect score, was Mun Il-to (Moon Ildo) 7-dan of Korea. Mun represented Korea in one of the first Amateur World Championships in 1982. His prize was £750. Second was Du Jinyu, followed by Lu Jinqiang, who edged out Guo Juan on the SOS tie break.

The decisive game was the final-round encounter between Guo and Mun, given here.

The go tournaments at MSO4 are run by the British Go Association (www.britgo.org).

Xingwen is here for the entire Olympiad. He will play in the Lightning tournament, the youth tournament, and the main tournament. He and Yajie will also team up for the Pair Go. He is also likely to give a simultaneous display (not for the first time - he has already played six boards). Why not come and see him for yourself.

• Click here for more information on Liao Xingwen.