Philippe Renaut won the first game in the Championship Final, by a margin of 6.5 points over Lu Xinqun. The game was decided by a trade in the middle game, with Philippe surrendering a fifteen-stone group on the left in exchange for a commanding position on the upper side. Philippe consolidated his narrow advantage, and despite getting squeezed in a semedori, he retained the lead throughout the endgame.

The second game in the best-of-three match will take place on Wednesday, March 22nd at 8.30pm on OGS.