I really don’t want to play Go!

Chapter 328 The Final Big Slope
The 10-dan tournament concluded with Zhu Huai'an being crowned the 10-dan title, causing a huge uproar across the internet.

A massive avalanche, the Demon Blade technique failing to hold true, a completely new and complex opening pattern being overwhelmed by a torrential downpour, Zhuang Weisheng losing his 10th dan title...

The recent series of events has given everyone a strong sense of impending doom, and it seems that an unprecedented upheaval in the chess world has already occurred!
This feeling filled everyone with a mix of shock, anticipation, and a strange sense of fear...

Originally, the whole internet was discussing the massive avalanche, the demon sword, the torrential rain, and the ten-stage battle, but as the conversation went on, the entire internet was suddenly plunged into an extremely oppressive atmosphere!

More and more people are turning their attention to the upcoming national team qualifying tournament.

Generally speaking, preliminary rounds don't attract much attention; only the main competition does. After all, there aren't even any notators responsible for transcribing the music in the preliminary rounds.

However, this qualifying round was different from the previous ones.

Especially at this sensitive time, and given the identity of this player...

On this day, a light drizzle fell over Jiangling.

Yu Shao took a taxi to the chess academy, paid the fare, got out of the car, put away his umbrella, walked into the academy's lobby, passed through the corridor, and headed towards the game room where the national champions' preliminary rounds were being held.

Before even reaching the game room, Yu Shao could hear a great deal of noise inside.

But the moment Yu Shao appeared at the door of the game room, all the sounds suddenly stopped.

The match room was packed with people. Many of them clearly didn't have any matches today, but they still came to the match room. When they saw Yu Shao arrive, they all turned their eyes to him.

Yu Shao glanced around the game room and quickly fixed his gaze on table number four.

On one side of table number four, a short, stout middle-aged man with a large face and thick eyebrows had already sat down. Although he was somewhat fat, he exuded a calm and dignified air.

Yu Shao recognized the man's identity at a glance.

Lai Yu, a 9-dan player, is also his opponent today.

If he wins this game today, he can advance to the title match main tournament; if he loses, he will have to continue playing.

When Lai Yu saw Yu Shao finally arrive, he looked at Yu Shao with a calm expression and unusually peaceful gaze.

Under everyone's gaze, Yu Shao quickly walked to the opposite side of Lai Yu, pulled out a chair, and sat down opposite Lai Yu.

Upon seeing this, the entire game room became even quieter, with only the sound of the drizzling rain outside the window, a constant white noise.

Everyone remained silent and spontaneously gathered around table number four, waiting quietly for the game to begin.

"The match is almost over..."

As the competition drew closer, everyone's heartbeats quickened for some reason, and a strange sense of tension and oppression arose within them!

This game is like the threshold to the hall of fame of Go. Once you cross this threshold and successfully enter the title match, you are undoubtedly a top player, regardless of your rank!
A moment later, the two referees finally arrived.

They arrived at the game room and silently glanced at table number four. Facing the table surrounded by a crowd, they showed no surprise, as if they had expected it.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Just then, two figures at the doorway instantly attracted everyone's attention.

National champion Jiang Changdong, and 9-dan Chu Jingfeng!

Jiang Changdong and Chu Jingfeng looked at table number four, then walked into the game room, silently joined the crowd, and waited for the game to begin without saying a word.

Seeing this, everyone could only take a deep breath and suppress the shock in their hearts.

After a few moments, a referee raised his wrist, looked at his watch, cleared his throat, looked at the fourth table, and finally said in a deep voice, "The match time is up!"

Click!

Upon hearing this, Lai Yu reached into the chess box first, and amidst the crisp sound of the chess pieces colliding, grabbed a handful of white pieces and held them in his palm. Yu Shao also took out black pieces from the chess box and placed them on the chessboard.

Lai Yu, seven, an odd number.

Yu Shao, one, an odd number.

In this game, Yu Shao will play black and Lai Yu will play white.

The two quickly arranged the chess pieces, then bowed slightly to each other, and the game began!
As the match finally began, everyone held their breath, their premonition growing stronger.

Will this game... result in a major diagonal move?

"Could the 'big slant' rule really be invalid as well?"

"If all three of the most difficult opening moves in Go are proven false..."

A thought that seemed absurd to them kept popping into everyone's mind, yet they couldn't help but keep thinking about it!
Everyone's feelings were incredibly complex. They didn't even know whether they wanted to see Da Xie not exist or still exist.

On the one hand, they hope that the Great Diagonal will exist. If even the Great Diagonal does not exist, then wouldn't the Go they have dedicated their lives to be a joke?
On the other hand, they also hope to see that the Big Diagonal really does not exist, and want to witness the truth of Go, even if this truth of Go will completely negate everything they have learned before!
For a moment, a jumble of thoughts surfaced in their minds.

For example, this game might not even have a large diagonal move at all. Or even if the large diagonal move doesn't exist, even if Yu Shao has solved Avalanche and Demon Blade, how can he be sure he can solve the large diagonal move?
"Furthermore, and more importantly, Mr. Lai Yu did not play many large diagonal moves. For Mr. Lai Yu, this is his last game. If he loses this game, he will be completely out of the title match."

Some people couldn't help but look up at Lai Yu.

"It has been five years since Teacher Lai Yu last entered the main tournament of a title match. This is a hard-won opportunity for Teacher Lai Yu to enter the main tournament of a title match again after five years!"

Click!

Just then, the sudden sound of a claw being pulled interrupted everyone's thoughts, and they all came back to their senses and looked at Yu Shao.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yu Shao finally picked up a chess piece and made his first move.

Hey!
Sixteen columns, three rows, small eyes!

Lai Yu calmly gazed at the upper right corner of the chessboard, focusing on the black stone located at the small point. After a moment, he finally reached into the chess box, picked up the stone, and slowly placed it down.

Hey!
Four columns and sixteen rows, a star!
Seeing Lai Yu place his piece, Yu Shao finally picked up another piece, and with a crisp sound, the piece fell to the ground.

Hey!
Four columns and four rows, stars!

Lai Yu quickly picked up a chess piece and placed it down again.

Sixteen columns and sixteen rows, stars!

At this point in the game, both sides have formed a star point versus a double star point, with black stones occupying the upper two corners of the board, while white stones are eyeing the lower part of the board, creating a competitive situation!

Yu Shao looked at the chessboard, immediately picked up a chess piece, and quickly placed it down!

Hey!
Three columns and fourteen rows, a small flying bird hanging at the corner!

A black piece has fallen diagonally above the white piece in the lower left corner star position, already posing a menacing threat to the white piece in the star position, ready to launch a strong attack with a double swallow at any time!

Across from him, Lai Yu stared at the black stone that had just been placed on the board, not immediately making a move. This move didn't actually require much thought; the black stone was trying to capture the white stone by approaching the corner, and the white stone could simply respond with a single move.

White's strongest move is to pressure the black stones on the top, making a move to counterattack and kill the black stone that is approaching the corner.

Since Black has a large komi of seven and a half points, White can wait for the opportune moment to strike. It is only natural for White to defend the corner and observe Black's moves.

However, Lai Yu fell into deep thought regarding this move.

After a moment, Lai Yu finally reached into the chess box and picked out a chess piece amidst the clattering sound of the pieces colliding.

Then, the piece is placed!
Hey!
Seventeen columns and five rows, a small flying bird hanging at the corner!

Upon seeing this move, everyone felt a chill and involuntarily held their breath!

White ignored Black's corner approach, neither forcing a counterattack nor defending the corner, but instead boldly abandoned the move and launched a fierce attack on Black's stones in the upper right corner!
This is White's most aggressive and ruthless move!
Black has the burden of a large komi, while White is under relatively less pressure. Generally speaking, White would never choose such a suicidal move unless absolutely necessary!
However, Lai Yu still managed to play it!
"Should we take it off first and go hang it at the top corner?"

Yu Shao gazed quietly at the intricately woven chessboard before him, lost in thought.

"Given this market situation, the best move to play this hand is a sharp one."

“In this era, this move is still considered a bad move, too slow, and something that would only be played in an era without komi.”

"Because of the komi, this move was changed into a pincer attack."

Yu Shao looked at the white piece that had forcefully invaded the small area above, his expression somewhat complicated.

"However, in reality, no matter how Go develops, even if this move was made by an ancient player, its value will endure and it will never be eliminated."

"In an era without close-range combat, this skillful hand can wait for the opportune moment, making it the best skill, bar none."

"If the komi is five and a half points, since Black still has the advantage of moving first, in order to pursue speed, this move might not be the first choice in this board position, but it is still the second choice."

"However, if the komi is seven and a half points, this move is not slow at all; instead, it's a move focused on solidifying the position and the overall game. That's the mystery of Go..."

So, should we choose the pointed one?

Yu Shao looked up at Lai Yu opposite him and suddenly noticed that Lai Yu's gaze seemed to be fixed on the lower left corner of the chessboard.

Upon noticing this, Yu Shao instantly realized what Lai Yu was thinking.

"Are you waiting for me to fly with you like a pair of swallows?"

Yu Shao withdrew his gaze and looked at the lower left corner of the chessboard.

In this situation, choosing the Double Swallow move is not entirely unreasonable. The Double Swallow move is not a bad move, but it is slightly inferior to the Point move.

If the sharp point is 100 points, then the double swallow might only be 95 points.

"If it's a double swallow, then... he'll fly high and leave Da Xie?"

Yu Shao finally reached into the chess box, his fingertips touching the chess pieces, feeling their icy coldness.

If Black plays a sharp move, then a large diagonal move is impossible. If Black wants to play a large diagonal move, then Black can only play a move that ignores the objective.

Yu Shao gazed at the chessboard and slowly picked up a chess piece.

"So--"

The next moment, the chess piece fell!

"bring it on!"

Hey!
Six columns and seventeen rows, a small flying bird hanging at the corner!

Seeing Yu Shao place his piece in the lower left corner, Lai Yu's eyes flashed, and he quickly picked up a piece and placed it down.

Hey!
Six columns and sixteen rows, wow!
Yu Shao followed suit, placing a black piece next to a white piece.

Black, seven columns and sixteen rows, move!

White's pieces, six columns and seventeen rows, are long!

Black, five columns and eighteen rows, point!

……

With a crisp metallic sound, both sides quickly placed their pieces, and the surrounding crowd watched the chessboard intently. Soon, they saw the black and white sides play the Double Swallow opening in the lower left corner.

Shortly after, Yu Shao picked up another chess piece and placed it on the chessboard.

Hey!
Eight columns and seventeen rows, Tiger!
Seeing this move, Lai Yu picked up another piece, and the piece collided on the board!
At this point, the clash between black and white in the lower left corner has come to an end. Although white could continue to entangle with black, it is no longer necessary.

White has gained the initiative and can now disregard the initiative and choose another location!
therefore--

Hey!
Fourteen columns in four rows, with a large, slanted canopy!

Upon seeing this move, the surroundings fell silent!
Everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding wildly, staring intently at the chessboard and the white piece that had just been placed!
With this move, the Great Diagonal, one of the three most difficult joseki to solve in Go, has been played!

This famous move, which once caused opponents to vomit blood on the board and produced one of the most tragic and memorable lines in the history of Go, has now been recreated on this board after hundreds of years!

Black and white are destined to fight to the death on this chessboard!
"Once this move is made, it will be impossible for Black and White to form a peaceful encirclement; they will fight to the death!"

Some people couldn't help but grit their teeth and clench their fists: "Both sides will inevitably be in a desperate situation. Neither side has any certainty. The complex changes will overturn the chessboard... That's how it should be normally!"

"Will this battle end in a bloody showdown, or... in a way that no one could have predicted?"

Someone's eyelids twitched, and he even broke out in a sweat. He couldn't help but wonder if the Great Oblique still existed. Although he felt that the three major fixed patterns shouldn't have been completely destroyed, he was still uneasy!

At this moment, everyone's heart was filled with immense anticipation and an even greater sense of dread!

"Lai Yu 9-dan... This was his first chance in five years to step into the main tournament of the title match, but he still managed to play a big diagonal!"

Throughout history, no one has been able to exhaust the variations of the three major opening sequences in Go!
However, of the three most difficult opening moves in the Go world, two have already collapsed, their shattering sounds shaking heaven and earth. Now, only this last major opening move remains!

The Great Slant is a game of countless variations, infamous for its deadly power, and has buried countless chess players. It is a testament to the wisdom of human chess players!

Previously, the only ones comparable to it were Avalanche and Demon Blade. Now that Avalanche and Demon Blade are gone, can the final Great Slash escape unscathed?

Will the answer be revealed in this game of chess?

Beside him, Jiang Changdong squinted at the chessboard, waiting for Yu Shao's response!

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)