It wasn’t just the United States. Across Europe, Japan, Korea, and every corner of the world, Go players were discussing the recent National Title main tournament, reviewing every single move from that astonishing game.

If the 3-3 invasion was once considered a pivotal point in the evolution of Go, then with the birth of Tesuji, all of Yu Shao’s innovations seemed like a flood long held back—now finally breaking through the dam and sweeping across the entire Go world.

“With Yu Shao’s rise, Go has entered an upheaval not seen in a thousand years!”

“Every move we once accepted as correct has been challenged. Our entire system of judgment has been upended!”

“Were the moves we thought correct ever truly correct? Were the ones we dismissed as wrong truly wrong?”

Countless questions haunted Go players across the globe. It was destined to be a sleepless night.

As a result, attention on the National Title tournament surged higher than ever. The tournament had reached its final stage—the next game would determine who would qualify for the title match!

Even Su Yiming’s Grandmaster Title match drew tremendous attention, thanks to Yu Shao. Many still remembered the intense clash between Su Yiming and Yu Shao during the British Glory Cup.

Everyone was curious: how far could Su Yiming go in the Grandmaster Tournament?

Time flew by. Three days later, the Grandmaster Title tournament resumed once again!

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Inside the Handtalk Room

Beneath the calligraphy scroll reading “Sit and Discuss the Dao,” Zhang Dongchen and Su Yiming sat face to face.

“Whoever wins this game enters the winners’ bracket final.”

Zhang Dongchen stared at the board, feeling a hint of nervousness and unease. Sweat had begun to bead on his forehead.

As a droplet of sweat slid down his cheek, he used a towel to dab it away.

“The one who loses... falls into the losers’ bracket.”

He had competed in countless title matches and knew all too well—once you fell into the losers’ bracket, climbing back up was even harder than winning straight through the winners’.

Players in the losers’ bracket were down to their final chance, and they'd fight with everything they had.

“If I can win the Grandmaster Title again, I’ll hold two titles. It’ll be a new breakthrough for me. But for him... it’ll be his first time getting this close to a title.”

Across from him, Su Yiming wasn’t exactly relaxed either, though his expression remained composed as his gaze never left the board.

After a long pause, Su Yiming reached into the bowl, picked up a stone, and placed it slowly on the board.

Click!

The clear sound echoed through the Handtalk Room.

Zhang Dongchen’s eyes darkened as he examined the move Su Yiming had made after such a long pause.

“You must want to win this match no matter what.”

“To win it, you even studied a lot of Shen Yi’s game records. But facing me... I’m nothing like Shen Yi.”

“Not as mystical as Shen Yi—but also not Shen Yi.”

“In fact, even the me from past game records... isn’t the same anymore. I may resemble him, but I’ve already changed.”

Nearby, the recorder and referees held their breath, craning their necks to watch the unfolding match with intense anticipation.

Just then, the door to the Handtalk Room creaked open quietly—though soft, the sound still drew attention.

The recorder and referees instinctively turned toward the door.

A man in his early thirties entered, wearing a black suit, thick brows and sharp features, black-framed glasses—he walked in calmly.

“That’s Grandmaster Fu Shunan...”

The recorder and referees recognized him immediately.

Fu Shunan glanced at the two players, then quietly walked over to the referee’s table and turned his eyes to the board.

“I’ve faced Zhang Dongchen more than once. I know his strength inside and out. But Su Yiming... other than a match during the Rising Flame Cup, I’ve never played him.”

“Like Yu Shao, Su Yiming became a pro just last year. Yu Shao just beat Zhuang Weisheng in the National Title match. But Su Yiming doesn’t seem to be pressuring Zhang Dongchen nearly as much.”

“It’s clear—Su Yiming still isn’t at Yu Shao’s level.”

Just then, the door creaked open again, and another man, also in his early thirties and wearing square-framed glasses, walked in.

He scanned the board and then glanced at Fu Shunan before walking over to join him silently in spectating.

“Even 9-dan Nan Lixuan is here...”

Fu Shunan gave him a glance, then quickly turned back to the board.

“It’s been so many years, and this is the closest he’s ever come to reaching the finals of a title tournament.”

Nan Lixuan stood with arms crossed, frowning slightly at the board.

“The game’s still even.”

“If Su Yiming might be my next opponent, I need to understand him thoroughly.”

“I turned pro at fourteen. After over a decade of struggle, I’ve finally made it to the final stage of the main tournament. And he... only went pro last year. Scary talent.”

Minutes passed. Zhang Dongchen still hadn’t moved. He was deep in thought, eyes locked on the board, calculating the sequences.

“If I jump here, it’ll be tough. Cutting and capturing would be better!”

“You want to build influence? Fine, I’ll let you. Let’s see you use it.”

His eyes turned sharp and cold. Finally, he picked up a stone and slammed it down.

“Bring it on!”

Click!

Column 14, Row 10—Clamp attack!

Seeing this move, both Fu Shunan and Nan Lixuan’s expressions changed.

The recorder also flinched and quickly logged the move into the system.

“A powerful move.”

Fu Shunan stared at the board. He could already feel the tension in the air.

“If White responds passively, it might solve the immediate issue—but it’ll be hard to escape later. Even if he escapes, Black will chase him relentlessly.”

Fu Shunan gave Su Yiming a glance, his gaze darkening.

“That game in the British Glory Cup really was amazing. The Downpour Joseki he played stunned everyone.”

“But in his recent match against Chang Yan, he played safe and steady. Even though he won... if that’s his true level, then he’s nothing to fear.”

The atmosphere in the Handtalk Room grew tense and suffocating.

Everyone waited to see how Su Yiming would respond to this fierce clamp attack.

...

Moments later, Su Yiming finally reached into the bowl. The clack of stones echoed as he drew one and dropped it swiftly.

Click!

Column 8, Row 12—Turn!

Both Fu Shunan and Nan Lixuan froze in surprise. A second later, their expressions shifted dramatically!

“A turn?!”

Nan Lixuan’s heart skipped a beat. “He played that? If Black tenukis here, White can cut directly!”

Fu Shunan felt a sudden dryness in his throat. He stared at the board.

“I can’t even think of a proper response for Black!”

Zhang Dongchen stared at the board. As he saw the move, his eyelid twitched involuntarily—his expression turned sour.

Click. Click. Click.

The pace of the game exploded—both sides moved like lightning!

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“It’s over.”

Yu Shao stared at the match on his screen and slowly exhaled.

“Zhang Dongchen misread the situation and lost. That turn—was the decisive move.”

He replayed the match in his mind, visualizing every sequence.

“If Zhang Dongchen had seen that turn coming, he wouldn’t have tried the clamp.”

“Without the clamp, there would’ve been no turn. Without the turn, he wouldn’t have fallen behind so easily.”

His expression turned serious.

“But the problem is... I didn’t see it either.”

Watching that game, Yu Shao felt an undeniable sense of threat and pressure.

“He really has gotten stronger.”

A moment later, Yu Shao shook his head, calmed himself, and closed the stream.

Su Yiming’s win in the Grandmaster match was sure to make waves—after all, another reigning titleholder had just lost to a player who only turned pro last year.

But that had nothing to do with him. The final round of the National Title main event was just days away.

Only a few players remained. Yu Shao would face the winner of the losers’ bracket in a match to determine who would enter the title challenge.

As the winners’ bracket champion, Yu Shao had two chances. Even if he lost the first match, the challenger would have to beat him again to take the spot.

Historically, winners’ bracket champs had a mental edge and a higher chance of making it through.

But there were also cases where a player from the losers’ bracket came back from the brink, defeated everyone, and even seized the title.

Currently, only four players remained in the losers’ bracket: Li You (8-dan), Zhuang Weisheng (Tengen), Deng Juncheng (9-dan), and Chen Shan (9-dan).

Zhu Xinyuan had been eliminated by Zhuang Weisheng in the previous round.

“Three familiar faces... Who will it be?”

Yu Shao thought for a moment, then shook his head. It was hard to say.

At this level, the gap in strength was tiny—anyone could win. The uncertainty in Go was simply too great.

The next day, the losers’ bracket semifinals concluded.

Zhuang Weisheng (Tengen) vs. Chen Shan (9-dan)!

Li You (8-dan) vs. Deng Juncheng (9-dan)!

In Game 1, Zhuang Weisheng and Chen Shan unleashed the Downpour Joseki, battling intensely. Zhuang Weisheng won by slaying a dragon midgame.

In Game 2, Li You built an advantage through invasion and reduction, then calmly controlled the board and secured a two-point victory in endgame.

The final of the losers’ bracket: Zhuang Weisheng vs. Li You!

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The Next Day

Yu Shao got up early. After breakfast, he watched the entire match between Zhuang Weisheng and Li You from his hotel room.

“It’s over.”

He stared at the screen, eyes unreadable.

“My next opponent… is decided.”

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Elsewhere

Li You left the Handtalk Room and quickly exited the Eastern Go Association. In the parking lot, he found his car and sat in the driver’s seat.

He buckled his seatbelt, but his heart was still pounding.

That match—those moves—still echoed in his mind.

He couldn’t drive like this.

After a long exhale, he sat in silence. Then he pulled out his phone, found a familiar contact, and made the call.

The line rang—then connected.

“Hello? Li You?”

The voice of Zhu Huai’an came from the other end. “What’s up?”

“The losers’ bracket of the title tournament... is over.”

Li You paused, then said.

“I know. I’m in Japan, just finished the North Sea Cup. Was about to check the results.”

Zhu Huai’an laughed. “Last year in the Tengen tournament, you lost the winners’ final to Zhuang Weisheng, dropped into the losers’ bracket, and lost again to Feng He—eliminated in the top four.”

“The year before that in the Grandmaster Tournament, you lost to Fu Shunan in round one, then made it all the way back—only to lose to Kong Zi.”

“And the year before that, you made it to the Ten-Dan challenge… but lost to Jiang Changdong.”

He teased, “What’s it going to be this year? Another ‘Half-a-Title’ finish?”

Li You was quiet for a long time. Then, with sharp resolve in his eyes, he said:

“Today, my opponent was Master Zhuang Weisheng. And this time…”

“I won.”

Zhu Huai’an went silent.

After a long pause, he finally said:

“So Yu Shao’s final opponent… is you.”

Li You’s voice was steady, resolute.

“Zhu Huai’an, I will win the title.”

“No matter who I face—no one will stop me.”

“You already have the Ten-Dan and Kisei titles. And this year… I’m taking the National Title.”

His gaze was sharp, staring straight ahead. In his mind, every move from the match played back—each one made with every ounce of strength he had.

“No matter who it is... no one can stop me.”