I really don’t want to play Go!

Chapter 398 The New Era Begins
As time went by, the popularity of the Gemini Cup grew, reaching its peak on the evening of the day before the start of the tournament, six days later!
Finally, the seventh day arrived.

The eyes of the entire world are focused on this upcoming battle. Although there is no smoke of gunpowder yet, everyone seems to feel an inexplicable sense of tension and oppression!
It was already late at night in New York, but inside the New York Chess Academy, a group of young chess players were all awake, gathered in front of their computers, staring intently at the screens.

“It’s about to start.”

Someone stared at the computer screen, watching the countdown in the Gemini Cup live stream, and spoke up.

Although the match had not yet started, for some reason, he subconsciously held his breath when he thought about the upcoming match.

"Yu Shao, yes, Su Yiming."

Beside him, another young man looked tense, his heart pounding. He took a deep breath and said, "A year ago, these two names were completely unknown..."

"Now, a year later, they have come all the way from the professional qualification tournament, defeating countless strong opponents. Even Jiang Changdong and Fu Shunan lost in the best-of-three match and lost their titles."

He stared intently at the countdown on the computer screen and continued, "This feat is unprecedented."

"And now, they have met at the summit of the great mountain of Go."

"What kind of game will these two really show us?"

……

……

Kansai Ki-in, Japan.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Run faster!"

Two boys, around twelve or thirteen years old, ran swiftly down the corridor of the chess academy, their faces filled with urgency: "The Twin Cup is about to begin!"

They ran like mad all the way and finally reached the door of the broadcasting studio. The shorter boy, without saying a word, slammed open the door and rushed in.

The tall boy followed closely behind and rushed into the broadcast room as well.

At this moment, there were already quite a few people in the broadcast room. When they saw the two teenagers rushing into the broadcast room, they all turned to look at the two of them.

"Hu! Hu! Hu!"

The short boy, catching his breath, looked up at the crowd in the broadcast room and asked without taking a break, "Has the Twin Cup started? Who's playing black, and who's playing white?"

"It hasn't started yet."

A young man gestured towards the television screen with his chin and spoke.

Upon hearing this, the short boy immediately looked at the TV screen. Seeing that the countdown was still on, he breathed a sigh of relief and exclaimed with delight, "Thank goodness, I made it in time!"

"You're not professional Go players, are you? Are you insei (professional Go players)?"

Some people, seeing that the two looked unfamiliar, asked in confusion.

"Yes, we are students from the institute. Today, Teacher Cunhe has been reviewing the lessons with us, and we almost missed it."

The short boy smiled, patted his chest, and said confidently, "Although I'm not a professional Go player yet, that's only a matter of time!"

"Oh? Really? You're that confident?"

Upon hearing this, someone couldn't help but laugh and say, "Group A? What's your ranking in the Group A student points? Becoming a professional Go player isn't that easy."

"It's Group A... currently in last place in Group A."

The short boy was slightly embarrassed, but he quickly clenched his fists and said confidently, "However, it won't be long before I reach first place!"

The tall boy glanced at the short boy, pushed up his glasses, and said, "Go wash up and go to bed. You can't beat me."

"You look down on me, don't you?!"

The short boy immediately bristled and glared.

Seeing this, everyone in the broadcast room couldn't help but laugh.

The term "insei" is similar to aspiring young men aiming for a professional ranking, only the name is different.

In Japan, insen students are divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D. They are ranked monthly based on points, which determines whether they are promoted or demoted. Insen students in group A can be considered as reserve professional players.

Clearly, both are in-in students of the Japan Go Association. Although both are in Group A and both are geniuses, one is at the bottom of Group A, while the other is first in Group A.

"Are you really that interested in the Gemini Cup? Are you so afraid of missing the live broadcast?" someone asked curiously.

"Of course I'm paying attention!"

The short boy stared at the TV screen, his eyes practically shining, and said without turning his head, "Yu Shao is amazing! Watching him play against the national champions gave me goosebumps. I'm his fan!"

……

……

North and South Korea, Pyongyang.

A group of young professional chess players stared intently at the computer screen, each with their own thoughts, but as the match time approached, they all felt a strange sense of tension.

“Yu Shao…”

“Su Yiming…”

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the two names on the computer screen.

Yu Shao is on the left, and Su Yiming is on the right. Yu Shao's name on the left is in black, while Su Yiming's name on the right is in white. The two are clearly separated, just like the yin and yang of Go.

One player, with his unbelievable moves such as the 3-3 point, the 5-line shoulder hit, and the pincer attack, broke the mental constraints of Go that had existed for thousands of years, overturned everyone's understanding of Go, and advanced the progress of Go!
It can be said that, thanks to Yu Shao, the way Go is played has undergone a shocking change in just one year.

The other player played the most complex and complex Go opening sequence to date, a truly terrifying display of skill. In the title match, he crushed Fu Shunan 3-0!

Many people used to say that Su Yiming's chess style was similar to Shen Yi's, but since the end of the Grand Chess Tournament, this saying has disappeared. Some even say that it's more accurate to say that Shen Yi is similar to Su Yiming than Su Yiming is similar to Shen Yi.

This will be their showdown!
Their previous encounters were all breathtaking, and this time, it will be a battle between the two of them after they have both won the title and stood at the top!
Victory or defeat may no longer be important.

The important question is, what kind of game will these two play under the watchful eyes of the world?

"Squeak."

Suddenly, the sound of the door being pushed open broke the silence in the room.

Everyone snapped out of their daze and subconsciously looked towards the door. When they saw who it was, they couldn't help but show a look of surprise on their faces.

"They're all here?"

An Hongshi glanced at everyone in the room, a smile appearing on his face, and asked, "If you don't mind, why don't you come and take a look?"

……

……

Not only the United States, Japan, North and South Korea, but also France, the United Kingdom... At this moment, countless people in almost every country in the world are paying attention to the twin wars, anxiously and nervously waiting for the start of the matches.

The internet was buzzing with discussion, and countless comments were flying across the live stream screen.

"This year, the entire Go world has undergone amazing changes. Looking back at the games from a year ago, they feel somewhat unfamiliar."

"I don't know why, but I always feel that this match has a special meaning... Yu Shao and Su Yiming are both players of the new era. Now that they have both won titles and entered the ranks of top-tier players, could this match between the two of them be considered the official opening of a new era?"

"Perhaps. Maybe twenty years from now, when someone asks when the new era of Go officially began, it will be this very match." "..."

The live stream chat was filled with a dense barrage of comments, but as the match drew closer, the comments gradually decreased, and everyone seemed to be influenced by an inexplicable force, becoming increasingly quiet.

Yu Shao!

Su Yiming!
Everyone's attention was drawn to these two names!

Everyone seemed to be overwhelmed by a grand theme called "the times," and could only silently wait for the new era to slowly unfold.

During this long wait, even the air seemed to be affected, filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.

Like the harbinger of an approaching storm.

At this moment, Yu Shao finally arrived at the Southern Chess Academy.

He walked straight through the corridor of the chess academy and finally stopped at the door of the game room, then gently pushed open the door.

Inside the chess room, the decor was simple and elegant, with only a chess table, two chairs, a long table for the referee and recorder to rest, and... calligraphy scrolls hanging high on the wall.

On the calligraphy copybook, four large characters were written in a vigorous, flowing style—

Sitting and discussing principles!
Beneath the calligraphy scrolls hanging high on the wall, Su Yiming had already taken his seat on one side of the chess table in the center of the chess room. When he saw Yu Shao push the door open and walk in, he immediately turned his head and stared intently at Yu Shao.

"We're about to clash again."

Yu Shao also looked at Su Yiming, his feelings somewhat complicated.

"This is our fifth game..."

In their first game, during the high school Go league, Su Yiming was far from being his match. Although Su Yiming had already shown great skill and put up a remarkable fight after falling behind, the difference between them was obvious.

The second game was during the professional ranking tournament. In fact, the victory in that game was somewhat unfair. When Su Yiming played the Great Avalanche, he had already declared a dead end. Moreover, he played the Demon Blade, and in the end, he lost even more miserably than in the first game.

In the third game, at the Yingjiao Cup, although Su Yiming was clearly much stronger and had a deeper understanding of Go, there was still a gap in their skill levels, and Su Yiming ultimately lost by three and a half points.

In the fourth game, during the team selection tournament, Su Yiming unexpectedly played the "Rainstorm" opening, an AI opening he was extremely familiar with.

His understanding of the patterns of torrential rain far surpasses that of Su Yiming, so Su Yiming naturally lost this game again.

However, the fact that he could play the "Great Rainstorm" opening pattern in a world without Go AI also deeply impressed him.

Su Yiming lost all four games.

Although he was an extremely familiar opponent, having faced him so many times, Yu Shao felt as if he were seeing a completely different Su Yiming every time they met.

Now, the fifth game has finally arrived!

What will be the outcome this time?

Just then, Su Yiming slowly stood up from his seat, looked at Yu Shao, and said, "Yu Shao, you've finally arrived."

"You're here. Have you been waiting for a long time?"

Yu Shao also looked at Su Yiming and asked.

"Not long is not too long to wait for me to fight you."

Su Yiming shook his head and said.

Upon hearing this, Yu Shao couldn't help but chuckle. Just as he was about to speak, Su Yiming interrupted him.

"The fifth game."

Su Yiming suddenly spoke up.

Yu Shao was taken aback upon hearing this, and looked at Su Yiming, waiting for Su Yiming to finish speaking.

"In the official match, we played a total of four sets."

Su Yiming stared directly at Yu Shao, his gaze incredibly sharp, and said, "I lost all four games. This... is our fifth game!"

The two referees and the referee on the side were slightly taken aback, then turned their heads to look at Yu Shao.

"..."

Upon hearing Su Yiming's words, Yu Shao remained silent, simply gazing into Su Yiming's dark eyes as if he could see through Su Yiming's thoughts.

"Ah."

After a moment, Yu Shao finally spoke, giving a soft "hmm".

The next moment, Yu Shao's gaze suddenly sharpened, and a sense of oppression emanated from his entire body. His aura was astonishing, making people dare not look directly at him!

Their gazes met and clashed in mid-air, neither giving an inch, locked in a fierce confrontation!

"In the official match, we played a total of four games, and I won them all. This... is our fifth game!"

Yu Shao's voice echoed in the game room, lingering for a long time.

At this moment, time seemed to stretch out and finally freeze in the game room!
After a moment, Su Yiming finally looked away and sat back down in his chair.

Yu Shao finally took a step forward, strode over to Su Yiming, and then pulled out a chair and sat down.

The music notator and judge on the side remained silent throughout, their minds churning as they looked at Yu Shao and Su Yiming sitting opposite each other not far away.

Beneath the calligraphy scroll that reads "Sitting and Discussing the Way," which hangs high, two chess players sit facing each other, silent and waiting for the game to begin, yet an invisible sense of pressure gradually spreads!

"Indeed, as Su Yiming said, Yu Shao won all four previous games."

The referee, glancing at Yu Shao and Su Yiming not far away, a bead of sweat trickling down his face, asked, "This game is about the title. Will it be different from before?"

"This match is destined to be the focus of everyone's attention."

"Who is truly superior?"

The referee silently wondered, "For them, is their existence a blessing... or a curse?"

Looking at them sitting opposite each other, he even felt a great pressure, and a sense of solemnity and reverence for no reason!
"However, in any case, their existence is certainly a blessing for all those who love Go!"

"More than winning or losing, perhaps what everyone is more concerned about is—"

"What kind of performance will they present to the world on the chessboard!"

The answer to this question is about to be revealed!

at last.

Seeing the hour hand on his wristwatch point to ten, the referee slowly stood up, glanced at Yu Shao, then at Su Yiming, suppressed his emotions, and said in a deep voice, "Time's up!"

"This competition will use an alternating first-move system. The first game will be a coin toss, and the second game will be a switch of black and white. Both sides will have three hours of time, with one minute of overtime. Black will have a 7.5 komi!"

The referee took a deep breath and spoke again: "The Twin Cup—"

"Now, let's begin!"

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)