Chapter 500 He's supporting me
"There's no sharp point here, but rather—"
"A huge jump?!"
Everyone was taken aback by this sudden move.
They had all planned for Black to make a sharp move, White to extend, Black to dig, and White to block. But instead of making a sharp move, Black suddenly jumped, interrupting everyone's thoughts and completely taking everyone by surprise!
"etc."
But soon, Kim Sun-eun realized what was happening, her heart skipped a beat, and she seemed to realize something: "This...?"
The expressions of the others, who were watching the television screen, began to subtly change as they witnessed this sudden turn of events.
A Japanese Go player stared at the television screen in astonishment and said, "This big jump not only invaded the White's territory but also put pressure on the White stones on the left."
He seemed somewhat incredulous: "Did Black already plan this tactic from that small knight's move earlier?"
Everyone originally thought that Black's small knight's move was intended to build a large territory in the lower left corner, forcing Black and White to exchange stones. But now it seems that Black's initial intention was not to exchange stones at all!
Black, on the contrary, used the exchange as a pretext to ultimately play this big jump!
This big jump was not a coincidence, but a premeditated move. If the initial intention was to create a shift in the balance of power, no one would have thought of such a move!
This big jump, without needing to think too much, directly blocks the path to conversion. No player attempting to create a conversion would consider it. But precisely because everyone is certain that Black will create a conversion, everyone is drawn into Black's game!
"It's alright, it shouldn't be a big problem."
After the initial tension subsided, the long-haired male Go player from North and South Korea regained some composure and said, "All we need to do is cut off the black stones' connections above. Since black is the one invading, it's more difficult for black to play here!"
"right."
Upon hearing this, Kim Sun-eun gradually regained her composure. After calculating for a moment, she finally nodded: "Once the connection is cut off, Black's invasion must be met with a three-liberty hold on White's pieces! Otherwise, it's nothing to fear!"
"In this situation, let alone taking three breaths, even taking one breath is extremely difficult!"
Just then, under everyone's watchful eyes, another white piece was placed.
clatter!
Twelve columns and seven rows, pointed!
"White has indeed cut off the stone!"
Seeing this move, the long-haired youth breathed a sigh of relief, his heart finally at ease. Then he couldn't help but laugh at himself for worrying unnecessarily.
If he could see this, how could An Hongshi not see it?
After An Hong-seok placed his white piece, the black piece quickly followed suit on the television screen.
Seeing this, Yu Shao also took out a chess piece from the chess box and placed it on the chessboard.
Upon seeing the black pieces fall on the board, An Hongshi immediately placed a white piece as well.
Eighteen columns and eight rows, sharp!
Then, Black made another move!
Kim Sun-eun stared at the falling star on the big screen, paused for a moment, and then said, "Bai Zi... Charge."
Both sides made their moves quickly. Gradually, a fine bead of sweat appeared on her forehead, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
After a few more moves,
"Black..."
Kim Sun-eun swallowed hard and said, "It's so tight."
On the big screen, chess pieces kept falling, and Yu Shao continued to set up the pieces according to the game. Meanwhile, the people around him stared at the chessboard, their faces covered in sweat, and their expressions grew increasingly incredulous.
Not only those in the debriefing room, but everyone in the world watching this game gradually showed a look of shock on their faces, and this shock began to grow stronger and stronger!
Everyone stared intently at the game, holding their breath and not even blinking, watching the black and white pieces fall continuously on the crisscrossing chessboard!
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Time passed steadily as the chess pieces were placed.
Shortly after, on the big screen, another black piece fell onto the chessboard!
Glug!
Some people's eyes widened, they couldn't help but swallow, their faces filled with shock, and they even stood up slightly from their chairs: "They've managed to breathe two breaths!"
Even the Japanese Go players were completely captivated by this game, their eyes glued to the television screen without blinking.
Yu Shao stared at the chessboard, his expression turning serious as he silently deduced the subsequent changes in the game.
Tap, tap, tap...
The sound of chess pieces hitting the board seemed to echo throughout the world, ringing in everyone's ears!
finally--
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, another black piece fell!
The moment that move was made, time seemed to stretch out!
"three--"
Upon seeing the black stone on the big screen, several people who had been sitting in the review room finally couldn't help but stand up abruptly.
Several North and South Korean Go players stared intently at the television screen, hardly believing their eyes!
"It's time to breathe properly!"
Even for the Chinese chess players, the shock and disbelief they felt upon witnessing this scene far outweighed any expected surprise!
silence!
The entire room fell silent instantly!
At this moment, everyone was speechless, staring in awe at the chess game.
How did you do that?
The connection between the black stones on the outside has been cut off by the white stones, so if the black stones invade, they must tighten the three liberties of the white stones. It seems that the black stones have the offensive control, but in reality, the black stones are more like trying to break through!
Therefore, Black should be in a more difficult situation!
However, Black managed to break through, incredibly securing three liberties for White. Single-handedly, Black fought its way out amidst a massive encirclement of Black's pieces!
If the two sides were evenly matched before, and most people even thought that the game would be more favorable to White if it dragged on, the situation has now changed from being evenly matched to Black having the upper hand!
...
...
"Yu Shao has already made it to the finals, so I absolutely have to win!"
Su Yiming stared at the chessboard, his mind still calculating the subsequent changes in the game. He was so focused that his face even looked cold and unapproachable!
An Hongshi frowned deeply, his expression having changed at some point. After a moment, he finally clicked as he took a chess piece from the chess box and placed it on the chessboard.
"Whether we've played five games, ten games, or even twenty games before, it doesn't matter!"
Su Yiming looked at the white piece that An Hongshi had just placed on the chessboard and quickly reached into the chess box, his fingertips touching the cold piece.
The matches in the loser's bracket were indeed quite brutal. He had been playing in the loser's bracket for so long and was exhausted. However, he had a reason to win and a force was constantly supporting him from behind!
"I have no room for losing anymore, so I have to keep winning."
Su Yiming picked up a chess piece, his eyes fixed on the chessboard, his gaze sharp.
"Now that he's made it to the finals, I absolutely cannot allow myself to be eliminated!"
"He's waiting for me up ahead, how can I...let him down?"
The chess piece is placed on the board!
"Many people say that it would be better if Yu Shao didn't exist for me, but how do they know that it is precisely because of him, precisely because I want to win, that fighting spirit has been supporting me in game after game!"
clatter!
Seven columns, ten rows, turn!
"I haven't even fought him to the death yet!"
"I--"
"How can I fall!"
The crisp sound of chess pieces falling onto the board echoes throughout the world!
...
...
"How...how did Su Yiming manage to do that?"
In the debriefing room, Le Haoqiang stared at the television screen and couldn't help but ask in a daze.
Even now, he still doesn't quite understand why Su Yiming was able to hold back Bai Zisan's qi. It's simply incomprehensible and unbelievable!
Others also couldn't understand it.
"When Black is tightening its liberties, White can gain an advantage elsewhere, right?"
A Japanese Go player licked his lips and said, "Black invaded, and usually the side that invades has a harder time, essentially putting itself in a situation where it is besieged. So why did the situation suddenly turn into a lead for Black?"
Yu Shao stared at the television screen, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Because, when Black was in a tight position, Teacher An Hongshi's two moves... did not bring any substantial benefit."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then they all turned their gazes toward Yu Shao.
Yu Shao looked at the chessboard, pointed to a white piece, and said, "This move, which cuts, seems to divide the black pieces, but it also puts the black pieces in danger. In the long run, the benefit is minimal."
"Although White's extension here has enclosed territory, Black's connecting move has created a slight weakness... Therefore, White is at a disadvantage."
After Yu Shao finished speaking, he turned his gaze away from the chessboard and looked back at the television screen.
"After so many rounds in the loser's bracket, they're still able to mount a powerful comeback..."
He had considered that Su Yiming could win, but he never expected that Su Yiming would never be at a disadvantage in this game. At worst, the score was even, and now he has directly gained the upper hand!
Yu Shao remained silent for a moment before finally shifting his gaze from the game of chess to the game between Araki and Jiang Han'en.
"Araki, advantage... no, winning position."
In this game, Jiang Han'en has already eliminated the three-way ko, but instead, he has fallen into a losing position!
Araki made full use of the incredibly complex three-hand ko to lure Jiang Han'en into the game. He found a position with greater value than the ko and calculated a change that would never happen under any circumstances. This is why Araki started the three-hand ko!
The term "unresponsive to all ko threats" means that no matter what ko threats the opponent uses, the player should not respond. This requires the player to have extremely high judgment and patience. Clearly, at least in this game, Araki's calculation ability, judgment, and patience are all superior to Jiang Han'en's.
Moreover, this game was different from yesterday's. Yu Shao could sense that Araki had realized why he lost yesterday, which was why he thought of using ko to deal with Jiang Han'en in today's game.
His method yesterday was to judge the direction of the moves by having a strategic view of the overall situation, and then work backward to deduce the answer to each move. This method was practically flawless, but it became useless if the game entered a ko fight.
The struggle for power is entirely based on calculation and judgment. No matter how far one can see, if one cannot cope with the calamity, one will be trapped in it and unable to escape.
It seems that Araki finally found his strongest method because of that game of Go: to fight to the death with his opponent in large and complex ko fights using his calculation and judgment.
The room where the debriefing was held became even quieter.
The group glanced at the game between Su Yiming and An Hongshi, then at the game between Jiang Han'en and Araki, and a sense began to creep into their hearts—this loser's bracket final would likely far exceed their expectations.
clatter.
clatter.
clatter.
Time keeps passing,
A moment later, under everyone's watchful eyes, on the live broadcast on the second television, a fist was slowly extended and stopped in the center of the chessboard. Then the hand was released, and two white pieces fell onto the chessboard with a clatter.
The outcome is decided.
Jiang Han'en, you've thrown a ball.
Araki wins in the middle game!
"It's over, so fast..."
Although they knew Araki was likely to win when they saw him in a winning position, they still found it hard to believe that he won so quickly.
It was too fast; the game was decided in just over 140 moves.
Currently, only the game between Su Yiming and An Hongshi continues.
An Hongshi held on tightly to his disadvantage, and White seemed poised to launch a counterattack at any moment. However, Su Yiming played exceptionally steadily, and White never found a suitable opportunity to make a move.
Black has maintained this advantage steadily, and depending on the situation, Black may even have a chance to maintain this advantage and directly enter the endgame, in which case the pressure on White will undoubtedly be even greater.
At that moment, another white piece was placed on the television screen.
"This move, Professor An Hongshi has directly encountered!"
Upon seeing this move, everyone involuntarily took a deep breath, realizing the intention behind White's move!
"White's move is practically a one-sided attack, a move designed to lose points in a single move, but through a protracted struggle, it forcibly opens up the game!"
"This is indeed a strong move. If White can really open up the game through a protracted struggle, then White can still fight for a place in the middle and endgame!"
Although everyone knew this move was not bad, everyone felt a little heavy-hearted, because it is common knowledge that in a single game, no player would make a move that cannot be encircled by even a single point unless absolutely necessary.
An Hongshi's move to touch the stone now seems like a desperate, risky move, a surprise attack, because in the normal way of playing chess, White would definitely be the most reasonable player to reinforce the stone first in this situation.
However, the current situation no longer allows for continued rationality; a surprise attack is necessary, even if it means taking a single-pronged approach!
"Teacher An Hongshi sensed the danger and was unwilling to sit idly by and wait for death. So he went up to see what Black's response would be, determined to fight back and decide the victor in a life-or-death struggle with Black!"
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(End of this chapter)
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