I really don’t want to play Go!

Chapter 455: Try your best, but still can’t win

The third round of the Phoenix Cup single-elimination tournament finally kicked off on the second day!

Around 8:30, one after another, the participating chess players arrived at the competition venue, looking somber and preoccupied as they approached their seats in the lower left corner.

It was 8:50 in a short while, and the competition venue was already packed. All the players were in place, ready to face the fierce competition.

The atmosphere inside the competition venue was somber and oppressive.

During the first round of the competition, the huge venue was packed with people. Even after half of the chess tables were removed the next day, the venue was still somewhat crowded.

However, after half of the chess tables were removed in this round, the entire competition venue already seemed somewhat empty, and after today, another half of the chess tables will be removed.

All the chess players' gazes were firm yet tinged with a resolute determination; their thoughts were almost identical—

The double-elimination stage is just around the corner. Now that we've come this far, we must grit our teeth and get through this final stretch no matter what. Once we reach the double-elimination stage, there will be room for error, and we can finally take a breather!
Want to win!

They want to win no matter what!
Everyone wants to stay, to stay on the world stage of this competition!

Although the players remained silent, their unwavering determination to win was deeply felt by all the amateur players and those who had been eliminated earlier.

"After today, another half of the chess players will leave this stage."

Inside the competition venue, Zhao Zhengyang, the chief referee, was deeply moved by what he saw.

He had seen too many scenes like this before.
This sentiment is present to varying degrees in all other chess tournaments, cup competitions, and title matches, not just the World Championship. However, it is only in the World Championship that this sentiment is so clearly expressed.

The term "World Championship" carries a unique meaning for all chess players. A chess player may play many games in their lifetime, but there are only two games that are truly significant in their life!

Ranking tournaments, world championships!

There is only one ranking tournament, but there may be many world championships. However, very few people can actually make it to the end in the world championships, even in a hundred years. Most people will become stepping stones for others.

"They are all excellent chess players who have made it this far, but they still have to leave this stage in the end... I wonder who will leave today?"

Sometimes, even Zhao Zhengyang couldn't help but criticize the ruthlessness of the competition. So many people struggle their whole lives, why can't they get a good result no matter what?

However, in the end, these problems simply turned into a quiet sigh.

Finally, after seeing the clock on the wall show nine o'clock, Zhao Zhengyang raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and, finding the time was correct, looked up and said in a deep voice, "It's time!"

"Now, players, please start guessing who goes first!"

The moment Zhao Zhengyang finished speaking, all the chess players immediately reached into the chess box, and the sound of "click" as they grabbed the pieces filled the air.

As soon as the competition finally began, the amateur players and those who had been eliminated in the previous rounds immediately headed toward the players they were interested in. Soon, the areas around the more popular games were packed with people.

Compared to yesterday, there weren't as many exciting matches today. The only one worth paying attention to was the match between Su Yiming and Xu Taiyang.

Naturally, most people came to this table to watch the game, to the point that some couldn't even squeeze in and had to settle for another table.

"Xu Taiyang?"

After looking around, Zhao Zhengyang immediately noticed Su Yiming and Xu Taiyang's table, which was surrounded by a crowd.

He was no stranger to Xu Taiyang. During the National Go Championship, there was a China-Korea Go exchange, which was led by Ahn Hong-seok, who brought many outstanding young players to China. Xu Taiyang was one of them.

At that time, Zhuang Weisheng played chess with these young North and South Korean chess players. According to Zhuang Weisheng, the only one who beat Zhuang Weisheng was Xu Taiyang.

Although I heard that Xu Taiyang's legs went weak and he could barely stand after winning that game, and Zhuang Weisheng probably didn't take it too seriously since it was just a friendly exchange, a win is a win.

So, he was also somewhat interested in seeing that game of chess.

However, seeing that Su Yiming and Xu Taiyang's table was already packed with people, he, as a senior chess player and now the chief referee, felt embarrassed to squeeze in with the others.

Finally, Zhao Zhengyang looked at other tables and soon saw the game between Yu Shao and Wu Lai, which had a large number of onlookers.

"Wu Lai, tenth dan?"

Zhao Zhengyang, as the president of the Chinese Chess Academy, naturally knew about Wu Lai. He knew that although Wu Lai was very young, just over twenty years old, he had achieved remarkable results in major tournaments in Malaysia in recent years, winning two cup championships in a row.

Although the Go environment in Malaysia certainly cannot be compared with that in China, with fewer top players and less intense competition, it is still a tournament worth watching.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Zhengyang finally walked toward Yu Shao's table.

As the chairman of the Northern Chess Academy, he had always been in Beijing. Although he was familiar with the name Yu Shao, this world championship was the first time he had met Yu Shao.

Soon, Zhao Zhengyang arrived at the chessboard and began to look at the game.

In this game, after the coin toss, Wu Lai played black first, and Yu Shao played white second. In just a short while, five moves had already been made on the board.

Black opened with a two-star move, and White responded with a two-star move in return. Black then made a small knight's move to approach the corner. Now it's Yu Shao's turn to make a move.

Yu Shao looked at the chessboard in front of him, thought for a moment, and quickly picked up a piece, making his sixth move.

Hey!
Seventeen columns, three rows, dot 33!
Seeing the white stone at position 3 in the upper right corner of the chessboard, Wu Lai was not surprised, but he still couldn't help but take a deep breath and then slowly exhale.

Wu Lai fell into deep thought.

The answer to the question "What is the answer to 33?" is now common knowledge, but seeing Wu Lai deep in thought, the people around him, for some reason, did not find it strange at all.

A moment later, Wu Lai looked at the chessboard, his eyes changed, and he subconsciously clenched his left fist. Finally, he reached his right hand into the chess box, picked out a chess piece, and quickly placed it down!
Hey!
Seventeen columns, four rows, block!
Yu Shao gazed at the chessboard with clear and calm eyes, and soon picked up a white piece and gently placed it down!
Hey!
The sound of the piece being placed is crisp and melodious!
Sixteen columns in three rows, so long!
Both sides kept placing their pieces, and time flew by with the clatter of the pieces being placed!
Zhao Zhengyang's expression gradually changed from calm to serious, then from serious to focused, and finally, he was completely stunned.

He subconsciously opened his mouth slightly, and then never closed it again...

……

I don’t know how long it took.

"Da da."

Two black pieces fell onto the chessboard.

The next moment, Wu Lai's face turned pale, his teeth clenched tightly, and finally, with utter dejection, he lowered his head and said, "I lost..."

The game is over!

"So...so awesome."

A man standing nearby, his face covered in cold sweat, stared at the chessboard with a look of deep disbelief on his face. His mouth remained slightly open, unable to close even now.

"I originally thought that hanging was for the purpose of embezzlement, but I didn't expect it to be a preparation for the introduction of taxes!"

In the previous two games, he had been paying attention to other games. This was the first time he had watched Yu Shao's game. Although he thought Yu Shao should be able to win, he never expected that the game would turn out like this.

He was truly stunned. Most of the others around him had watched the first two games, and although they too were somewhat surprised by Yu Shao's brilliant moves and astonishing handling of the isolated group in this game, they couldn't help but show some astonishment as well.

However, I am not surprised that Black was defeated by White with overwhelming force.

“Wu Lai, a tenth-dan player… is no match for him at all.”

"The win was so beautiful, so decisive and efficient. The mid-game maneuvering was like a large-scale guerrilla war, with multiple attacks but Black managed to find no weakness. It's amazing how they were able to keep playing like that."

"It's not very polite to say it like that, but it's true... Black was completely manipulated by White throughout the game. White knew all of Black's ideas perfectly. They were not even on the same level."

"Yu Shao is strong, but... is he really that strong?"

Seeing that the game was over, the people around could no longer contain themselves and began to whisper among themselves in hushed tones.

Looking at the game of chess, Zhao Zhengyang couldn't help but recall the game between An Hongshi and Kong Zi yesterday.

Compared to this game, yesterday's game was undoubtedly far more exciting than today's game; the two cannot be compared. However, all of this is based on the fact that Kong Ziye is also very strong.

Go is a game for two people.

Wu Lai was indeed inferior to Kong Zi, but he was by no means weak. However, in this game, he was almost completely manipulated by the white pieces, and could not find a single opportunity throughout the entire game.

Although he had never met Yu Shao before, he had read all of Yu Shao's game records. In other words, there is no chess player today who hasn't read Yu Shao's game records.

He felt that Yu Shao's strength lay in his revolutionary understanding of Go and his unpredictable playing style. This was indeed an unprecedented feat that ushered in a new era. He single-handedly changed the way Go was played and shocked the Go world.

But, then again.

Now that most chess players have gradually accepted and understood these perceptions and ideas, he doesn't actually feel that Yu Shao has any significant advantage.

Indeed, Yu Shao's calculations are profound, his judgments extremely accurate, his reactions swift, and his fighting skills first-rate. Although he doesn't play many endgame moves, it's evident from the few games he has played that he handles them with remarkable finesse...

However, other top chess players also possess these skills.

Even Yu Shao, a player known for his aggressive style of play, exhibited a strange sense of disconnect in his movements that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

The last game in the previous national champion tournament left a very deep impression on him, but it was obviously just a game played by chance under a flash of inspiration.

In short, Yu Shao lacks something that no other player has, something that only he possesses, and something that other players cannot learn or catch up with. This is a quality that a true top player must have!

Therefore, after watching this game, his first reaction was not that he thought Yu Shao was strong, but that Wu Lai was too weak.

However, when he reflected on the game again, putting himself in Black's shoes, he finally came to the following conclusion:

"If it were me, I would also..."

"He manipulated us completely."

It's not that Black is too weak, but rather...

White is too strong.

This had a shock to him that was no less than the game of chess between An Hongshi and Kong Zi yesterday.

In this game, Yu Shao seemed different from the Yu Shao in the previous game records, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different. He couldn't really tell from just one game.

"If An Hongshi and Yu Shao play a game, who will win in the end?"

He stared blankly at the chessboard, the thought uncontrollably popping into his mind.

At this moment, seeing Wu Lai finally resign, Yu Shao also bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your guidance."

Wu Lai did not reply.

Immediately afterwards, Yu Shao saw Wu Lai opposite him with his head down and his body trembling slightly. The next moment, a few drops of water fell onto the chessboard.

Yu Shao was stunned.

That wasn't water, but... tears.

The people around fell silent as they watched this scene unfold.

Wu Lai is only twenty years old, yet he has already obtained the 10-dan title, achieving fame at a young age. Now, his attempt to compete in the World Championships must be because he feels that the stage in his country is too small and wants to prove himself on the world stage.

Perhaps losing the game is not unacceptable for Wu Lai.

but……

In this game, however, he was constantly beaten and utterly defeated, completely manipulated and unable to find any opportunity.

Let alone Wu, who is a 10th Dan, even they would probably find it hard to accept.

"..."

Yu Shao gazed at the tears on the chessboard and fell silent.

Although Wu Lai holds a 10th Dan title, his skill level is incomparable to that of other domestic title holders.

In this game, he held nothing back; in fact, to ensure victory, he went all out with every move.

Although Wu Lai could not find a chance to win from beginning to end, he managed to hold on for more than 180 moves, which was quite impressive.

In the end, Yu Shao didn't say a word, slowly stood up, and turned to walk towards Su Yiming.

Survival of the fittest is the essence of competition. Losing is an inevitable part of every player's journey, and only those players who can get back up after a loss will become stronger!
Soon, Yu Shao squeezed into the crowd surrounding Su Yiming's table, turned his gaze to the chess game, and began to watch the game intently.

Hey.

Time ticked by with each move.

Finally, after about twenty minutes, Xu Taiyang lowered his head with difficulty and said with a sense of resignation, "I lost."

Although he knew that his opponent in this round was Su Yiming, he was prepared to lose. However, he had a number of victories against top players, so he was determined to give it a shot and win.

But in the end, despite giving it their all, they still couldn't win.

…………

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(End of this chapter)