On the Go board, black and white stones intertwined, composing an unprecedented grand symphony.
"Although counting the seven and a half contact plays, the situation should be evenly split, but Black is more proactive."
Yu Shao stared at the board, assessing the current situation. Although the positions were close, there was a subtle difference.
In this battle, every move from Black exerted immense pressure, leaving no room for respite. In other words, Black was holding the initiative!
"I must find a chance to break free from this middle game."
Yu Shao's eyes darkened slightly. He quickly made a diagonal blocking move again and placed his stone.
On the other side, seeing Yu Shao's move, Su Yiming also followed with a Black stone.
Column 17, row 4—hane!
"A hane?"
Seeing this move, Yu Shao's expression shifted slightly, his brows furrowing tightly. He couldn't help but raise his head and look toward Su Yiming.Opposite him, Su Yiming also stared back, radiating sharpness and brilliance. Even when Yu Shao met his gaze, Su Yiming's eyes did not retreat an inch!
"He hasn't given me any chance. Every move precisely attacks the weaknesses in my White stones."
After a moment, Yu Shao finally withdrew his gaze and looked back at the board.
In this game, Su Yiming's every move was harder than he expected, making him feel a heavy pressure he hadn’t encountered in a long time.
"However, such a dense and continuous offensive is impossible for anyone to sustain indefinitely."
Yu Shao pondered briefly, then once again made a diagonal blocking move and placed his stone.
"As long as I don’t give him an opportunity, the moment he reveals a flaw will be when Black’s position collapses!"
Click!
As Yu Shao made his diagonal blocking move, Su Yiming immediately followed, pressing down a stone between his fingers.
Column 18, row 4—hane!
"Another hane!"
Seeing Su Yiming’s move, Yu Shao instantly made a diagonal blocking move, placing his stone swiftly!
Click!
Column 18, row 5—block!
"Black has begun the counterattack!"
Everyone was startled by this move.
Previously, Black was always responding to White’s moves, but here, Black took the initiative for the first time—and when Black made a move, it was fierce enough to shock everyone!
"Here Black directly blocks, demanding a full seal!"
The female recorder beside them was equally shocked, her eyes fixed tightly on the central Go board in the soundproof Go room!
"White’s large knight’s move is excellent. Even if Black manages to cross, it’s barely a scratch for White. White can simply make a large knight’s move from the center!"
"With six Black stones above under attack, White has found a way to restrict or disrupt the Black shape below!"
"But—"
"Yu Shao’s block completely extinguishes Black’s chance to expand outward and even plans to capture the vitality of Black stones above!"
Su Yiming stared intently at the stone Yu Shao had just placed. After about two minutes, he took a stone from the bowl without hesitation and placed it down!
Click!
Column 15, row 7—large knight’s move!
Faced with White’s counterattack, Black did not retreat at all. Instead, it jumped up to counterattack fiercely, prepared to fight to the death with White!
The game had entered a white-hot phase of battle!
Black began a vigorous counterattack, but White also set up a desperate defense, not backing down despite Black’s aggressive attitude. In fact, White’s moves were even fiercer than before!
Click!
Click!
Click!
The sounds of stones hitting the board echoed one after another continuously inside the Go room!
Across the world, countless people were watching this final stage intensely. They fixed their eyes on the board, unwilling to blink or breathe loudly, holding their breath.
They watched black and white stones alternately placed on the board, witnessing this silent battle accompanied only by the sound of stones.
To them, this fierce fight on the small board was even more thrilling and turbulent than scenes of thousands of troops charging in war movies!
"So spectacular!"
"White’s counterattack is extremely rapid, with every move cunning and the board chaotic. Yet, even so, Black seems to have calculated all variations, continuously pressing White!"
"The pressure from every move is suffocating. Facing such a storm of fierce attacks, only Yu Shao can withstand it."
"Logically, the more chaotic it gets, the higher the chance of mistakes. But Black is different—every move in this situation remains flawless!"
"Not only that, several of Black’s moves have made me blush, completely unexpected. Su Yiming not only hasn't erred but is playing better and better!"
"The situation between the two is very close. After so many moves, both are locked in tightly. It should be evenly matched!"
"True rivals!"
The live broadcast comment section was filled with heated discussion.
"Evenly matched?"
In the broadcast studio, Zhuang Weisheng gazed at the large board before him, shaking his head: "No, there is a slight difference."
Hearing this, his partner Chang Yan, 9-dan, was surprised and looked at Zhuang Weisheng. Even she thought the board was balanced.
"A slight difference?"
Chang Yan furrowed her brows and asked, "Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, who do you think has the advantage or disadvantage?"
"It’s not enough to call it a big advantage or disadvantage."
Zhuang Weisheng paused, staring tightly at the live broadcast screen, then slowly said: "However, Black... holds a slight upper hand now."
"Su Yiming holds a slight upper hand?"
Chang Yan thought for a moment, then asked: "Why? I feel the situation is about equal."
"I can’t say exactly why, just a feeling. But I think I’m not wrong."
Zhuang Weisheng said: "But analyzing this deeply has little meaning. Even if Black is slightly ahead, the board is still wide open, and the battle line is long. White finds it difficult, and for Black this game isn’t necessarily easy either!"
"It’s too early to judge the outcome just by advantage or disadvantage!"
On the board, Black and White stones fell like raindrops, drawing everyone’s full attention. Without realizing it, everyone was deeply immersed in this game.
After an unknown amount of time, suddenly, a White stone was placed on the board.
Column 18, row 7—extension!
"An extension here?"
Seeing this move, the crowd, previously absorbed in the game, was suddenly shocked, their mouths wide open and eyes bulging.
The struggle above was fiercely contested and unresolved, but now White suddenly turned to the edge and extended, a completely baffling move.
Not only them, even Su Yiming had not anticipated this move.
But shortly after, Su Yiming’s expression changed slightly. He immediately realized the deep meaning behind White’s extension and sensed the cunning and killing intent embedded in it!
"The battle above is still undecided. White’s extension to the edge seems idle, but on closer thought, it not only pressures my weak Black stones on the right wing but also connects to the fight above!"
"Although I have more sente moves in this battle, White’s counterattack is fierce. If I’m careless, my Black stones will be harmed!"
"If White manages to execute this, my Black stones might be completely destroyed!"
Su Yiming clenched his left fist tightly.
This was truly a brilliant tactic. Such a miraculous move alone could be recorded in Go theory. Perhaps other players might find it after long, deep thought.
But Yu Shao had almost instantly seen through this tactic!
This was no longer about calculation or judgment—it was intuition and mindset!
Almost no one could maintain such a broad view of the entire board during a fierce battle on the frontline. Only by focusing on the overall situation in a blurry position could one accurately find this move!
However, even after Yu Shao’s sudden "check," Su Yiming quickly regained astonishing composure, though fine beads of sweat appeared on his temples.
He also felt an overwhelming pressure, nearly crushing.
But—
Click.
With the sound of stones colliding, Su Yiming took a White stone from the bowl and placed it down swiftly!
Column 18, row 8—hane!
A faint ferocity appeared in Su Yiming’s eyes!
Yu Shao also focused intently on the board. Seeing Su Yiming’s move, he thought for a moment, then took a stone and placed it on the board.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Both sides kept placing stones rapidly, soon battling fiercely over the right wing. What was once a local fight gradually spread across the board, intensifying without signs of stopping!
Watching the stones fall in turn, the crowd felt parched and dry-mouthed.
"White’s extension was like a masterstroke from Go theory!"
"If Black had the advantage before, after this move, that’s no longer the case. White even gained the chance to wrest sente and launch a strong attack against Black!"
"No, not a chance—it’s certain!"
"The momentum between offense and defense changed in an instant. If White truly captures sente, Black will face a storm of relentless revenge!"
Everyone couldn’t help but sweat nervously for Su Yiming. They never expected Black, who was just seizing the initiative everywhere, to suddenly be on the verge of collapse!
Click!
Click!
Click!
After several more moves, Su Yiming suddenly raised his head. Accompanied by a soft click, he took a Black stone from the bowl with his right hand.
The next moment, his gaze was fierce. The black stone between his fingers drew an arc in midair and swiftly landed on the board!
Click!
Column 14, row 6—diagonal move!
The moment the stone landed, the entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant.
"This..."
"A diagonal move?!"
Everyone’s hearts jumped with a chill, their expressions suddenly changing!
Some couldn’t help but exclaim: "Black’s diagonal move here is a fierce attack on three weak White stones above?!"
Everyone stared at the board in shock, unable to understand why Black, whose position was already unfavorable, wouldn’t defend but instead launched a frenzied assault on White above!
This was obviously a desperate battle, and Black’s move was tantamount to suicide!
But soon, as everyone reexamined the board, after a long moment, they all showed looks of astonishment.
"Brilliant... brilliant move!"
The answer quietly emerged in a shocking manner!
Black’s previous moves seemed like defense but were actually laying the groundwork for this one, thickening originally thin positions without anyone noticing!
This made what appeared to be a suicidal diagonal move suddenly have a lifeline!
No, rather than a suicide, it was a sacrifice to secure life for a larger Black group!
This diagonal move struck White’s thick wall and was sure to be killed, but this sacrifice strengthened the Black stones above again!
This move seemed like an attack but actually repaired Black’s weak points!
If White ignored this, that suicidal Black stone would dare to challenge White!
This made Black, which was previously at risk of counterattack, once again impregnable!
"A diagonal move?"
Even Yu Shao’s expression changed upon seeing White’s move, faintly displeased.
Su Yiming’s displayed strength in this game had far exceeded Yu Shao’s expectations!
Several of Black’s previous moves troubled him greatly. He barely found a chance to counterattack with the extension, but Black’s diagonal move was beyond his expectations.
He had thought the counterattack was about to begin, but after this move, it vanished, and White’s large groups would continue to be pressed!
"Though the points are close, if this pressure continues, the gap will only widen!"
Yu Shao’s expression turned ice-cold. For the first time, he clearly felt danger. He stared at the board, wildly calculating thousands of future variations in his mind.
Thus, Yu Shao quietly observed the board for a long time before finally taking a stone and placing it again.
At the moment Yu Shao placed his stone, Su Yiming immediately took one and placed it as well.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Both sides placed stones swiftly, with over ten moves following in rapid succession!
"Su Yiming’s move again took White’s eye space—so ruthless!"
The female recorder, watching Black’s move, took a deep breath, feeling some fear.
"Giving White no chance at all, constantly squeezing. This move seems impossible to respond to properly..."
She looked up at Yu Shao, only to find that facing Su Yiming’s ruthless and complicated move, Yu Shao’s hand was already reaching into the bowl, about to place a stone!
Click!
With the sound of stones colliding, Yu Shao took a stone from the bowl!
The next moment, his hand descended from above!
Click!
Column 17, row 8—atari!
"This..."
Seeing this move, the female recorder froze, then widened her eyes in disbelief!
The two referees in front of the referee’s table beside her showed the same reaction.
Almost simultaneously, all three slightly stood up, staring at the board not far away, seemingly unable to believe their eyes!
Opposite Yu Shao, Su Yiming’s hand, just about to reach into the bowl, froze midair.
He carefully looked at the board, at the White stone at column 17, row 8, and a cold sweat slowly slid down his face!
In the Twin Stars Cup official live broadcast, the densely flowing comment barrage suddenly vanished instantly after this move, leaving only profound silence!
One stone placed, and the entire world fell into stillness!
Between heaven and earth, it seemed only the echo of that stone’s placement remained, shattering the sky!
On the nineteen-line board,
Column 7, row 10!
Atari!
.....
Elsewhere.
In the broadcast room.
Zhuang Weisheng stared unblinkingly at the big screen, silent for a long time.
Because he racked his brain, yet didn’t know how to describe this move in words!
After a long pause, he finally spoke and broke the silence of the entire world!
"A fierce move!"
Yes!
This move could only be described with those two words: "a fierce move!"