I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!

Chapter 449: What Kind of Game Can Be Called Utterly Devastating?

"The first round of the World Championship has concluded. I will now announce the list of players advancing to the next round..."

Finally, as Zhao Zhengyang's voice sounded once more, the commotion in the competition venue gradually subsided.

"Kang Han-eun, Yu Shao, Hans, Su Yiming, Zhu Huai'an, Higashiyama Kaoru, Kudou Yano..."

Every time Zhao Zhengyang mentioned a player's name, everyone would instinctively turn their gaze toward that player.

Especially when Zhao Zhengyang mentioned the names "Higashiyama Kaoru" and "Kudou Yano," it caused quite a stir.

Although Kudou Yano had been immensely famous a decade ago, he hadn't participated in competitions for ten years. Many people felt he couldn't keep up with the times and feared his results wouldn't be good, perhaps even quite poor.

However, since Kudou Yano's first-round opponent was Zheng Qin, who wasn't very well-known internationally—most people's knowledge of Zheng Qin was limited to him being a newcomer who had just made it to the World Championship—many were only slightly surprised by Kudou Yano's victory and didn't pay it much mind.

After all, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Even though Kudou Yano had been absent from the Go scene for ten years, he was still the player who had single-handedly propelled the progress of Go.

He transformed Go from overall coordination into an era of competition between strength and calculation. This achievement alone, even if Kudou Yano had been defeated by An Hongshi back then, could still be described as great.

Therefore, even after being absent from the Go scene for ten years, most people, while surprised, could understand that he could still defeat rookie players upon his return.Compared to Kudou Yano, Higashiyama Kaoru was the true dark horse that shocked everyone. When people learned that Higashiyama Kaoru's first-round opponent was his own teacher, Kimura Go, the 10-dan, few even thought Higashiyama Kaoru had a chance to win.

But to everyone's astonishment, Higashiyama Kaoru ultimately won.

Among the crowd below the stage, many people whispered and discussed.

"How did Higashiyama Kaoru win? Did Kimura Go, the 10-dan, go easy on his own student?"

"Not likely. This is the World Championship. Precisely because Higashiyama Kaoru is his student, to avoid gossip, Teacher Kimura Go would be even less likely to go easy."

"Then how did Higashiyama Kaoru win?"

"Higashiyama Kaoru is strong. That game, he deserved to win." Someone who had watched the game between Higashiyama Kaoru and Kimura Go couldn't help but speak up.

"How is that possible? Although Higashiyama Kaoru isn't weak, compared to a top expert like Kimura Go, the 10-dan, there should still be a big gap, right?" someone immediately retorted.

Soon, after announcing the list of all players advancing to the second round, Zhao Zhengyang said solemnly, "The above are the players advancing to the second round.

"Now, we will begin the draw for the next round!"

Hearing this, all sounds in the venue instantly ceased, and the expressions of the advanced players present also became more serious.

Although half the players had been brutally eliminated in the first round, this was only the very first step.

The upcoming matches, because the opponents were all players who had survived the first round, were destined to be even more difficult and intense!

When the staff brought the drawing box and placed it on the table, the various advanced players silently stepped forward one by one, drawing lot papers from the box. The air was filled with an extremely heavy atmosphere.

Soon, it was Yu Shao's turn to draw.

Yu Shao stepped forward, reached into the drawing box, grabbed a lot paper, and then opened it to take a look.

Written clearly on the lot paper was—

Number 23.

"Yu Shao, number 23."

Yu Shao looked up from the lot paper and spoke to the staff.

The staff member nodded, quickly recorded Yu Shao's number, and then said, "Next."

Immediately after, Su Yiming, who was behind Yu Shao, stepped up to the drawing box and drew his lot paper.

Number 89.

And so, all the advanced players in the venue drew lots one after another. Since half the players had been eliminated, this round's draw was naturally quicker than before.

Before long, all players had finished drawing lots.

After the staff entered all the numbers into the computer, Zhao Zhengyang soon took a freshly printed sheet and began announcing the draw results.

"Number one, Qin Lang, versus, Smith;

number two, Matsushita Masao, versus, Pie;

number three..."

Soon, Zhao Zhengyang read Yu Shao's name: "Number twenty-three, Yu Shao, versus, Lee Jun-ho."

Hearing his opponent's name, Yu Shao was slightly taken aback.

His first-round opponent, Dong He, had appeared in the second China-US rivalry game, so he had some impression, but for this round's opponent, Lee Jun-ho, he had never heard of him at all.

On the other side, in the China-Korea team area, a young man around twenty years old, who had been full of fighting spirit just moments before, instantly deflated upon hearing the draw result for table twenty-three, his expression collapsing.

"Ah, shit! Why me?"

The young man was on the verge of tears: "It's only the second round! I wanted to last a few more rounds!"

On stage, Zhao Zhengyang continued announcing the draw results for each table. Each announcement sparked discussions among many amateur players below.

And when Zhao Zhengyang announced the result for the one hundred and fourth table, the crowd couldn't help but erupt into heated discussion—

Table one hundred and four, An Hongshi, versus, Kong Zi!

"Teacher An Hongshi versus Meijin Kong Zi!" someone couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

"Facing each other in the second round! This is going to be exciting. This result probably isn't what Meijin Kong Zi wanted to see, and I doubt Teacher An Hongshi wanted it either. Both sides are under pressure."

"Teacher An Hongshi might feel some pressure, but surely Meijin Kong Zi is under more pressure... Single-elimination format, no second chance. Meijin Kong Zi is really unlucky."

"Others can breathe a sigh of relief. With Teacher An Hongshi and Teacher Kong Zi facing each other, two major threats are eliminated at once. The pressure drops sharply!"

For a moment, everyone discussed fervently, instinctively turning to look at Kong Zi. Although Kong Zi's expression was somewhat heavy, overall he remained relatively calm.

Finally, after a while longer, Zhao Zhengyang finished announcing all the draw results and then said, "The above are tomorrow's match results. Later, the match schedule will also be uploaded to the Phoenix Cup official website. Players can check it themselves."

"All players, rest well today. Tomorrow at nine in the morning, the second round will officially begin!"

With that, Zhao Zhengyang finally turned and walked off the stage.

Seeing the second-round draw ceremony conclude, the venue instantly erupted into a tidal wave of discussion about the draw results!

"It's starting to get interesting. In the second round, not only are Teacher An Hongshi and Teacher Kong Zi facing each other, but Teacher Jiang Changdong is also in an internal match against Kisung Zhang Dongchen!"

"Also, 9-dan Kang Han-eun versus Teacher Hans—that's also worth watching! I wouldn't be surprised if this game happened in the World Championship finals!"

"I remember in the previous Kisung Title match, it was also Teacher Jiang Changdong challenging Teacher Zhang Dongchen. Ultimately, Teacher Zhang Dongchen successfully defended the Kisung Title with a three-to-two record. But this time it's not a series—it's single elimination!"

"Teacher Jiang Changdong just lost the National Champion title. In this World Championship, he'll definitely want to redeem himself. He's probably going to fight desperately."

"Unfortunately, Yu Shao's opponent is Korea's Lee Jun-ho, 7-dan. Probably not much suspense there. I was looking forward to watching that."

"Su Yiming's draw luck is pretty good. Two rounds in a row without encountering strong opponents..."

"Go back and get a good night's sleep. Conserve energy tomorrow to watch the games! I don't even know which one to watch—I want to see them all."

Perhaps because the first round had eliminated half the players, the final draw results for the second round got many people excited.

They discussed animatedly as they walked out of the competition venue, full of anticipation for tomorrow's matches.

Unlike these bystanders who enjoyed the excitement without worrying about the consequences, as actual players, each wore expressions that were several shades heavier, along with... a hint of fighting spirit!

Fewer and fewer people could continue down the path of the World Championship, which meant the battles ahead would become increasingly difficult. No one was confident they could definitely keep going.

There was only one option: fight!

.......

.....

Soon, time arrived at the next day.

A little after eight in the morning, many players had already arrived at the competition venue one after another. Just like yesterday, they each found their seats and sat down.

But unlike yesterday, the atmosphere in the venue today clearly held more killing intent. After winning yesterday's matches, most players had gained more confidence and determination, with less confusion and nervousness.

Thus, compared to yesterday, they wanted to win even more today!

Another difference was that half the Go boards in the competition venue had been removed today. Yesterday, the venue had been extremely crowded, but after removing the boards, it became much more spacious.

And after today's matches concluded, another half of the boards would be removed. The same would happen in the following days until eventually all boards were gone, and the massive competition venue would have only one final board at the center.

Such a large competition venue, such a grand stage, built solely for this one board. At that time, the Phoenix Cup World Championship finals would unfold on this last board!

After yesterday's matches, although half the players had been eliminated, most of these eliminated players had also returned to the competition venue today.

They still planned to continue watching until the final champion of this Phoenix Cup World Championship was decided, to see who would ultimately climb to the top, stepping over the piled bones including their own.

Before long, Yu Shao also arrived at the competition venue and soon walked to table twenty-three.

Beside table twenty-three, a young man around twenty years old, seeing Yu Shao walk to the opposite side, took a deep breath and prepared seriously.

Soon after, around eight-fifty, all participating players had arrived. Everyone sat upright and proper, and the competition venue fell completely silent.

The eliminated players and the amateur players invited to watch the World Championship kept shifting their gazes among Jiang Changdong, Zhang Dongchen, Kang Han-eun, An Hongshi, and others, expressions hesitant.

After a moment, some people took the lead and moved first, heading toward Jiang Changdong and Zhang Dongchen's table. Then others followed. Some eventually went to An Hongshi and Kong Zi's table, while others went to Kang Han-eun and Hans's table.

There were still some people who exchanged glances but hesitated to move.

Seeing this, someone suddenly said with a light laugh, "It's not like you're stuck there once you go. At worst, take a look and then switch tables, take another look and switch back."

Hearing this, the others were momentarily stunned, then immediately understood and couldn't help but laugh too.

In the end, some went toward Arakino's side, while others went to Higashiyama Kaoru's side.

Time passed bit by bit.

Even though there was still some time before the match began, the eliminated players and invited amateur spectators instinctively held their breath, quietly waiting for the match to start.

Finally, when the clock on the wall of the competition venue pointed to nine, Zhao Zhengyang looked down at his wristwatch and then said solemnly—

"Match time has arrived. Players, please begin nigiri."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shao quickly grabbed a handful of stones from the go bowl and held them in his palm. Opposite him, Lee Jun-ho immediately took out two stones and placed them on the board.

"Six stones."

After counting the white stones in his hand, Yu Shao looked up and spoke.

Lee Jun-ho nodded and said, "I guessed correctly. I'll take black."

Yu Shao nodded, quickly returned the stones on the board to the go bowl, then bowed slightly and said, "Please guide me."

"Please guide me."

Lee Jun-ho also bowed in return, then couldn't help but take a deep breath, picked up a stone, and placed it on the board.

First move, seventeenth line, fourth row, komoku!

Yu Shao also quickly picked up a stone and placed it.

Fourth line, sixteenth star, star point.

The two alternated placing stones, quickly forming a classic layout of asymmetric komoku versus twin-star formation. White's stones were placed on star points, aiming for quick influence, pursuing battle and attack.

"Twin-star versus asymmetric komoku..."

Beside them, Han Xiu watched the board, sinking into thought, "What Lee Jun-ho excels at is star-point layouts. But he still chose asymmetric komoku. In his game records, komoku layouts are quite rare."

"But Lee Jun-ho still played this way instead of going for twin-star..."

Han Xiu glanced at Lee Jun-ho, saw his extremely grave expression, and roughly understood Lee Jun-ho's intention.

"Knowing Yu Shao is good at taking influence and attacking, even though he himself is also good at attacking, he feels he has no chance against Yu Shao in a direct fight. So he wants to scatter the board and try to prolong the game..."

"Have to say, not very wise."

Even though Han Xiu was an amateur player, he dared say this was definitely not a good approach.

Even if the opponent is good at attacking, you absolutely cannot abandon what you're good at and choose to avoid battle. On the contrary, the stronger the opponent, the more you need to engage in chaotic fights. Only then is there a slight chance to win in the chaos.

"Although this move isn't very wise, for Lee Jun-ho, it might be the only option he has."

"The pressure Yu Shao puts on him is too great..."

Han Xiu asked himself honestly;

if he were to play against Yu Shao, he would probably... also lean toward defense. Even knowing that taking a risk might offer a better chance, he wouldn't dare to actually go for it.

Moreover, this is the World Championship!

Taking a risk might lead to an opportunity, but it could also mean complete annihilation!

Soon, Yu Shao and Lee Jun-ho placed another eight or nine moves each, while Han Xiu watched quietly nearby.

Recalling what his friend had said about Yu Shao yesterday, he couldn't help but feel a question arise in his heart.

His friend had been more optimistic about An Hongshi winning the championship before the match. Why did he suddenly change his mind after watching just one game yesterday?

"Lee Jun-ho probably isn't Yu Shao's match. Yu Shao should win. But no one who makes it to the World Championship stage is weak. Moreover, in this game, Lee Jun-ho has already adopted a defensive counterattacking stance."

"Then, what kind of game can truly be called utterly devastating?"

This was the reason he chose to watch Yu Shao and Lee Jun-ho's game instead of An Hongshi and Kong Zi's match!