I really don’t want to play Go!

Chapter 418 The Flame
The Twin Cup unexpectedly ended with one win and one draw, and this match has become a memory that many people will never forget.

Although the competition ended several days ago, many people can still be seen gathered in chess halls on the streets and alleys, reviewing every move made by both sides in the two games and talking about the competition with great interest.

"Yu Shao's game was really brilliant. He reversed the balance of power and overturned the thousand-year-old concept of Go."

"The first game? Indeed, even now, thinking about it still makes me feel hot all over."

"The second game was even more exciting, wasn't it? Yu Shao and Su Yiming both displayed extraordinary skill, fighting fiercely until the sky darkened and the sun and moon lost their light, ultimately ending in a draw! It was simply divine!"

"I'm really looking forward to their performance at the World Championship. With these two rising stars, as well as Zhuang Weisheng and Kong Zi... we're sure to achieve great results at the World Championship this year!"

"The two games between Su Yiming and Yu Shao were truly a life-or-death struggle. While watching, I was afraid they would start fighting after they finished."

"After watching this match, I suddenly feel that other matches are a bit boring. Now I'm just looking forward to their next encounter."

"..."

As Ma Zhengyu passed by a chess club on the street, he heard the lively discussion coming from inside and a smile appeared on his lips.

"This competition was definitely the right decision to hold; I never expected it to cause such a sensation."

Ma Zhengyu felt somewhat proud of the Twin Cups, which he had single-handedly promoted.

"Now everyone is not only full of confidence for the upcoming world championship, but also a Go craze has emerged. According to Xiao Ding, the number of children signing up to learn Go has soared in the past few days at various Go clubs."

“The future is promising!”

With a cheerful mood, Ma Zhengyu hummed a little tune and soon arrived at the entrance of the Southern Chess Academy.

He walked into the chess academy's main hall, passed through the corridor, and finally arrived at his office. He lay down in his office chair and let out a comfortable groan, a sound unique to middle-aged men.

"Dong dong."

Ma Zhengyu had just sat down when a knock came at the door.

Ma Zhengyu immediately sat up straight, cleared his throat, and said, "Please come in."

"Good morning, Chairman Ma."

Soon, a staff member from the chess academy pushed open the door and walked in. While greeting him, he handed the documents in his hand to Ma Zhengyu and said, "These are the chess players from various countries who have registered to participate in the Phoenix Cup. Please take a look."

"Row."

Ma Zhengyu nodded, took the document, and asked, "There should be a lot of sponsors for this World Championship, right?"

"Hiss, Chairman Ma, that's more than just a lot!"

The staff member gasped, looking as if I had just been shocked, and clicked his tongue, saying, "The sponsorship fee for this World Championship was already set at a very high level, but sponsors are still pouring in like fish in a river, we can't stop them!"

"Especially our well-known domestic companies, the enthusiasm they're showing is almost frightening."

Ma Zhengyu smiled faintly, with an expression that said, "This year's Phoenix Cup not only has Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, but also Yu Shao and Su Yiming. Of course, they are willing to spend a lot of money to sponsor it."

"I'm also really looking forward to their performance at the World Championships. I'm a huge fan of Su Yiming," the staff member said with a smile.

"Oh?"

Ma Zhengyu became interested and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you a fan of Yu Shao?"

"It's normal for people to have different preferred playing styles. Yu Shao's calculations are profound, and he is good at capturing his opponent's mind. He often defeats his opponent with unpredictable and subversive means in a complex and ever-changing game."

The staff member said, "Many of his moves are extremely outrageous. In my opinion, he's like a peerless master from an evil sect."

"However, Su Yiming's chess is different."

At this point, the staff member smiled and said with some longing, "His chess is full of power and passion. He doesn't use any strange moves or tricks, yet he is well-versed in military strategy. His style of play is upright and dignified, yet it reveals his strategic thinking. He can hide a deadly intent in the most intangible places."

"Their struggle, in my view, is like a battle between good and evil."

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhengyu couldn't help but laugh and tease, "If Ding Huan heard you say that, he'd probably fight you for three hundred rounds. He's a die-hard fan of Yu Shao."

"To each their own," the staff member said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before the staff member finally said goodbye and left Ma Zhengyu's office.

After the staff left, Ma Zhengyu finally opened the registration list for the Phoenix Cup and started looking at it.

Soon, Ma Zhengyu saw many familiar names on the list. Behind these familiar names, almost all of them had shaken the chess world and created legends.

Among them were some unfamiliar names, but overall, there weren't many.

"Without realizing it, they've all gotten to this point."

Ma Zhengyu couldn't help but feel a little emotional. He was the chief referee of the Go ranking tournament last year, and the scenes that happened then seemed to be right before his eyes.

Now, a year later, Yu Shao and Su Yiming have both won the world championships and become rising stars, each with their own loyal fans, which is truly remarkable.

"However, none of the names on this list are easy to deal with. The World Championship is destined to be no easy battle."

As Ma Zhengyu looked at the names on the list in his hand, the smile on his face gradually faded.

Ander 10-dan, who won two major American titles this year and swept the North American Go scene, is hailed as the "savior"!

Fujiwara Motosei, who has maintained the highest win rate of 7-dan or higher in Japan for five consecutive years!
Jiang Han-eun, a 9-dan player, has set a record of being undefeated in international competitions for two consecutive years in the World Championships. He is known as the "Tiger of North and South Korea".

Norio Ishida, known as a formidable opponent of China, boasts an extremely high win rate against top Chinese players in world championships. He has caused countless Chinese players to bleed on the board.
Known as the "Barbarossa of Go," Hans holds five major German titles and has won the European Go League four times. He was once a dark horse in the world championship, defeating Zhuang Weisheng and An Hongshi to win the world championship that year!

Higashiyama Kaoru's teacher, Kimura Go, a 10th dan, had fought against An Hiroshi many times and pushed An Hiroshi to the brink of defeat countless times. Although he never won a world championship, he was known as the "uncrowned champion"!
……

These names, full of stories and legends, these influential figures in the Go world, were all on the list, making Ma Zhengyu feel that the registration list in his hand seemed to have become a little heavier.

It's important to know that the Phoenix Cup has only just opened for registration, and it's foreseeable that the number of applicants will surge soon. Those names that have shone in the history of Go will gather at the Phoenix Cup.

When the Phoenix Cup begins, it will surely be a time of dazzling stars!

"The winds of change are blowing..."

"Although my country's overall chess level ranks among the top three in the world and there are many top players, the competition in world championships is too fierce and the margin for error is too low."

Thinking of this, Ma Zhengyu couldn't help but let out a long sigh: "Apart from Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, we really haven't gotten good results for a long time."

dong dong dong.

Just then, the knocking sounded again.

Ma Zhengyu composed himself, placed the Phoenix Cup registration list on the table, and said, "Please come in."

Soon, a staff member wearing glasses pushed open the door and walked in. He went to Ma Zhengyu's desk, handed him a document, and said, "Chairman Ma, this is the list of professional first-dan players who have successfully achieved professional status in our region this year. Also, the Torch Relay needs to be arranged as soon as possible."

"The Battle for Sustainability?" Upon hearing this, Ma Zhengyu slapped his forehead and said, "I was so busy with the Twin Cup that I almost forgot about this. I'll arrange it right away."

The staff member nodded, handed the documents to Ma Zhengyu, and then hurriedly turned and left.

Ma Zhengyu opened the paper document, pulled out the list of professional first-stage candidates, and scanned it from top to bottom before finally fixing his gaze on Zhuang Fei's name.

"Zhuang Fei, that kid, has finally reached the next level?"

Ma Zhengyu couldn't help but smile, recalling the Go ranking tournament a year ago.

"Zhuang Fei lost to Yu Shao, and his mentality collapsed at that time... However, he probably doesn't care about it now."

Ma Zhengyu smiled, picked up a ballpoint pen from the road, and wrote "Zhuang Wei" after Zhuang Fei's name. Just as he was about to write the character "Sheng", he seemed to think of something and the pen suddenly stopped.

Ma Zhengyu's gaze swept across the other names on the list, and soon his eyes settled on the runner-up of the Southern Region Go Professional Ranking Tournament—

He Yu.

"He Yu, isn't he a young cultivator who has reached the next stage of cultivation from the Heavenly Dao Academy?"

Ma Zhengyu fell into deep thought.

A moment later, Ma Zhengyu picked up his phone and dialed Zhuang Weisheng's number.

……

……

after an hour.

Yu Shao's family.

"My partner in the battle for the torch is He Yu?"

Upon hearing Ma Zhengyu's words on the other end of the phone, Yu Shao was slightly taken aback and asked, "I remember that no amateur players in our Southern Division have successfully achieved professional ranking this year, right?"

Upon learning that he might have to participate in the torch relay according to regulations, Yu Shao immediately looked up relevant information.

Indeed, in the first year after winning a title, a player is required to participate in the torch relay, but only if an amateur player is present.

Otherwise, if someone already has a teacher or senior, they would naturally prefer to have their teacher or senior lead them in their first professional match rather than a stranger.

None of the players who successfully achieved professional status in the Southern Division this year were amateur players.

Yu Shao had just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the battle for the torch was no longer his concern, when Ma Zhengyu called.

"He Yu's teacher is Bai Suqian, an eighth-dan master who has already retired, while the only ninth-dan master in their dojo is Kong Junxuan, a ninth-dan master. His recent performance has not been ideal, and he finds it troublesome."

Ma Zhengyu, on the other end of the phone, coughed twice and explained, "I asked He Yu if he would be willing to let you be his partner in the battle for the torch, and he immediately agreed."

The senior brother finds it troublesome to lead his junior brother in a battle of attrition?

Yu Shao was a little confused. Was the relationship in this dojo really that cold?

"Yu Shao, although you are still young, you are already a title holder. As one of the seven title holders and a national champion, you must shoulder the responsibility of welcoming those who come after you."

Ma Zhengyu said righteously.

"That's fine."

Yu Shao knew he couldn't avoid this battle for supremacy, so he could only agree. Then he casually asked, "Who is my opponent? And who is his partner?"

"..."

Upon hearing Yu Shao's words, Ma Zhengyu suddenly fell silent on the other end of the phone.

"Hey?"

Yu Shao was a little puzzled. He said "Hello" and asked, "Can you hear me? Is the signal bad?"

"Cough cough cough."

On the other end of the phone, Ma Zhengyu coughed twice and replied, "I can hear you. Your opponent in the Fire of Life battle is... Zhuang Fei."

Upon receiving this answer, Yu Shao's lips twitched involuntarily.

Upon hearing this news, I wasn't surprised at first. After all, the opponent in the Torch Relay was arranged by the Chess Academy, and the Chess Academy would definitely arrange it to create as much hype as possible.

"Then, Zhuang Fei's partner is..."

Ma Zhengyu paused for a moment, then continued, "Su Yiming."

Yu Shao was completely stunned. It took him a long time to react before he asked incredulously, "Su Yiming? Isn't that Teacher Zhuang Weisheng?"

"Yes, Professor Zhuang Weisheng had something come up, so Su Yiming will have to be his partner." Ma Zhengyu said, sounding a little guilty, but he still managed to keep up the act.

When his son becomes a professional Go player, the father immediately takes his son to compete in the "Passing the Torch" tournament. How could anything go wrong at this crucial moment?
Yu Shao didn't believe Ma Zhengyu's words at all. He suspected that Ma Zhengyu was doing it on purpose, but he had no evidence.

Hearing Yu Shao's long silence on the other end of the phone, Ma Zhengyu immediately said, "In short, everything has been arranged. You just need to come and participate in the Torch Relay the day after tomorrow."

"Besides, isn't it better that the opponents are Zhuang Fei and Su Yiming? If it were Teacher Zhuang Fei and Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, you wouldn't have any chance of winning at all. This time, it's really absolutely impossible for you to win!"

Yu Shao was speechless for a moment, unable to refute.

Indeed, if his opponent in the torch relay were Zhuang Fei, and Zhuang Fei's partner were Zhuang Weisheng, he himself felt that his chances of winning were slim.

After all, they are father and son. As the saying goes, "Like father, like son," and there is a natural advantage when father and son go into battle together.

Moreover, there's a saying that no one knows a son better than his father. Zhuang Fei could probably tell what Zhuang Weisheng was going to say just by looking at him. In this kind of two-person battle, if your partner isn't strong enough, you're likely to get beaten to a pulp.

"Chairman Ma, what I really want to know is, how did you talk to Teacher Zhuang Weisheng and get him to agree to let Su Yiming be Zhuang Fei's partner..."

Yu Shao spoke softly.

Ma Zhengyu quickly said, "No, Teacher Zhuang Weisheng had something come up, so—"

Hearing this from the other end of the phone, Ma Zhengyu still wanted to argue, but Yu Shao spoke again, calling out Ma Zhengyu's name softly: "Chairman Ma..."

"Cough cough."

Ma Zhengyu coughed twice and finally said truthfully, "I said, a chess player should stand on his own, not be protected in the shadow of his father."

"A chess player can be led by anyone when taking the first step into the professional chess world, but that person should never be his father."

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)