The EGF is a non-profit organization with the purpose of encouraging, regulating, co-ordinating and disseminating the playing of Go in Europe. It has a history of more than fifty years of organising congresses, championships, tournaments and leagues throughout Europe. Membership is open to the Go organising body in any country in, or near to, Europe. As of 2015 there were 37 members and the number continues to grow. The European Go Congress (EGC) is the premier event of the European Go calendar and as well as featuring the European Championship, has tournaments and teaching that all can join in. It brings together all kinds of Go players, competitive and recreational, young and old, from all over the world as well as all around Europe. It can attract up to a thousand attendees. Reflecting the increased level of play over the last twenty years, annual European Championships are now also held for particular groups of players. These events are held at various times during the year and in different locations each year. There are Championships for Youth, Students, Women and Pairs. The EGF coordinates major European tournaments and many of these are part of a Grand Prix. Over the years various sponsors have supported tournaments for the very best players, often to select players to take part in pro events in the Orient. Currently these events are the Grand Slam Tournaments and the Professional Qualification Tournament. Previous sponsors of events have been Fujitsu, Toyota, Denso, Ing foundation and Pandanet. Since 2014 two new professionals have been appointed each year to a European Professional System and the EGF Academy has been set up in cooperation with the Ge Yuhong Go Academy in China. An official European Rating List is maintained by the European Go Database, by processing the results of as many European tournaments as possible.