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Nie Yunfei, the daughter of Chinese Go legend Nie Weiping, announced in a social media post on Thursday, January 15, 2026, that her father passed away due to illness at 22:55 on January 14, 2026, after medical treatment proved ineffective.

According to public records, Nie Weiping was born on August 17, 1952, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, and was a monumental figure in the world of Chinese Go. During the China-Japan Super Series of Go in the 1980s, he served as the chief commander and delivered a stunning comeback by consecutively defeating several top-tier Japanese players, creating a legendary tale of resilience. For this remarkable achievement, he was honored with the title "Sage of Go" (Qisheng) by the former Chinese National Sports Commission and the Chinese Weiqi Association, sparking a nationwide surge of interest in the game.

Nie Weiping also served as the head coach of the Chinese national Go team, mentoring numerous world champions. Over the years, he remained an active and dedicated participant in Go activities, continuously contributing to the promotion and development of the game.

In July 2013, Nie was diagnosed with rectal cancer during a medical check-up and underwent surgery in November of the same year. In her announcement, Nie Yunfei stated that her father had suffered a sudden cerebral infarction in March 2025, resulting in a 12-day coma. After regaining consciousness, he engaged actively in rehabilitation therapy. Tragically, on January 14, 2026, he succumbed to a sudden medical emergency at the hospital, despite all-out efforts to save him.