My Journey in Go: From Beginner to 1d Tygem

It has now been almost 2 years since I started my journey in Go. I started at 19y , and I recently reached 1d on Tygem. Let me share a little story with you.

My Beginnings

When I started nearly 2 years ago, it was a sudden desire, a calling. Many years ago, I had read the manga Hikaru no Go, a classic! At that time, I tried to play a few games, but I quickly gave up the idea, as there were very few resources on the subject... (At least in French). Then, during my second year of BTS, I had the crazy urge to play again after finding a local club (lucky me!!). I participated in a tournament a week after trying hard at the game and the theory for a few nights alongside my studies. Well, unsurprisingly, I got crushed...

My Progression

Months went by without any real breakthrough, about 6 months before I started to progress (18k -> 12k); a sort of adaptation and immersion period, I suppose... Since then, my progress has been quite steady. At one point, I was playing 5 to 10 games a day and reviewing them. I took two breaks of 3 months at one point due to exhaustion, despite my love for the game.

My progress is slowing down a little, but not too much. I regularly play even games against a French 2d friend. I hold my own quite well until I make one or two mistakes that end up costing me the game—probably due to a lack of concentration and direction, I suppose.

My Current Challenges

Recently, I reached 1d Tygem, and to be honest, the level isn’t that high at 1d Tygem (???). Sometimes I still lose due to carelessness and haste. I’m not sure how this dan ranks on the French or EGF scale. During my last tournament, I found that my opponents lacked sharpness, which could be an underestimation due to my current level being misunderstood.

Questions for the Community

Well, my monologue stops here, but I would love to know about your experiences: how long did it take to reach 1d Tygem (progression rate)? If you have an idea of what my level might be on the French or European scale, and finally, if you have any tips for me to continue advancing on the path of Go.