The review reached its conclusion.
Toya Koyo placed a stone, and at that point, Shindo Hikaru conceded.
“black stone ultimately won by 2.5 points.”
“Such a precise calculating player, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe it’s real.”
Toya Akira interrupted, “Father, you miscalculated. black stone won by 1.5 points.”
“Hmm?”
Toya Koyo lowered his head, staring at the Go board.
Ogata was startled and began calculating the points for black stone and white.
A moment later.
“Where was the oversight Ao Ying found?”
Toya Koyo asked. He had carefully calculated it a second time and found no error.
No one knows a son better than his father; Xiao Liang's Go skill isn't enough.
Toya Akira removed a dozen stones from the board. “Starting from here, black stone has a brilliant move, a one-point descent.”
As the black stone stone was placed, Toya Koyo and Ogata quietly watched the landing spot.
As top players in Sakura Country, they naturally didn't need a detailed explanation; they instantly saw that white would lose an extra point to capture the stone.
About ten seconds later, Ogata pushed up his glasses. “Teacher, do you think a precise machine could calculate God's Hand?”
“Impossible. That kind of calculation is beyond human capability.”
Toya Koyo said calmly, “But, approaching God's Hand could become the norm for a precise machine.”
“Ao Ying’s terrifying aspect lies precisely in this: solely relying on his calculating ability, he can ascend to the top ranks.”
Top ranks?
Toya Akira’s face was grim. “Father, please tell me, do I still have a chance to catch up to Ao Ying?”
“Probably very difficult.”
Toya Koyo said indifferently, “Xiao Liang, in an even game, how long will it take you to have an even record against me?”
Toya Akira was stunned. “My Go skills need refinement. I estimate it will take ten years to reach Father’s current level.”
“Let’s assume you’re right.”
Toya Koyo was expressionless. “Ao Ying, in as little as five years, or as much as seven or eight, will be a strong contender for titles.”
“What?!”
“Five… five years?”
Clatter—
Toya Akira suddenly stood up, bumping the Go board, scattering the black stone and white stones.
“I will definitely catch up to Ao Ying. I will never give up.”
As he spoke, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.
“My apologies, I lost my composure.”
“Father, senior brother, I’m going to practice Go.”
Watching him leave, Toya Koyo sighed. “Xiao Liang never had an opponent growing up. Now, two have suddenly appeared. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
Ogata took out a cloth to wipe his glasses. “Xiao Liang is used to being unrivaled. He needs some setbacks to grow better.”
“Teacher, the Go world in Sakura Country is stagnant. Ao Ying’s arrival will make everyone feel threatened.”
“Next, perhaps a new wave will come.”
Hearing this, Toya Koyo pondered, “Like the New Fuseki reform initiated by Mr. Wu and Mr. Kitani?”
“Ogata, in five years, Ao Ying will stand before us. You and I cannot relax.”
“That one-point descent… my judgment was correct. Ao Ying is playing purely by calculation, but he is human, and humans make mistakes.”
“When he played against you, the hane and connection was a mistake.”
“I truly look forward to seeing how far a precise machine can challenge us.”
“Go intuition versus pure calculation, who will win?”
…
Saturday.
Sakura Country Chess Academy Headquarters.
A five-story building, the entire architectural style is Western-leaning, the interior is quite tidy, with signs placed everywhere.
Some areas of the Ki-in are open to the public. The basement floor houses a memorial hall, recording some history of the Go world. The second floor has public playing rooms and a souvenir shop.
Today was the day for Insei to report for auditing, and Ao Ying arrived at the venue more than an hour early.
“Hmm, black stone is very cautious. This joseki move took five minutes.”
“black stone is not playing by the book. He actually played a double hane.”
In the lobby on the first floor, a large Go board, about five or six times the size of a normal one, hung on the stage.
Large board commentary?
Ao Ying stopped. Large board commentary is set up to enhance interaction with Go fans, and the games explained vary.
Sometimes it's a live broadcast of a match, sometimes it's a review of a famous game.
“Ah!”
“black stone played a double hane again, very strong. How will white respond?”
A host was performing a monologue, while a group of middle-aged and elderly people in the audience seemed uninterested.
Having nothing else to do, Ao Ying approached the Go board to watch.
“So it’s the leaning variation of the Small Knight's Move Capping Attack from the Star Point.”
“black stone’s double hane, white’s normal response, and black stone’s new variation of continuing the double hane.”
“It seems like this pattern existed in the past, and then again, it seems not to have.”
Ao Ying couldn't recall when the double hane move appeared. Before the system was activated, he learned Go strictly, and his skill level was similar to Shindo Hikaru's in the junior tournament.
He didn't look at messy moves.
In traditional thinking, if moves conform to Go principles, one wouldn't suffer a loss even if encountering unseen variations.
“Oh, a new young friend has arrived.”
“Yes, yes, don’t look around. You’re the only young friend here.”
The host noticed Ao Ying and waved. “Come, could you please help me?”
Ao Ying was confused and walked onto the stage.
“My partner got stuck in traffic today. Until she arrives, could you be my temporary partner?”
???
Ao Ying paused. “Okay.”
In his previous life, he was a professional 2-dan, not very skilled, and had to earn money for braised pork rice. He had rich experience as a supporting player, and now it felt like a reunion, slightly familiar.
“Oh? A young friend has arrived. Is he skilled?”
“At this time, the only kids interested in coming to the Ki-in are Insei, but I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”
“It doesn’t matter. The host is a professional 1-dan, so there’s no doubt about his professionalism. The child can just liven up the atmosphere.”
“I heard he was sent by the Kansai Ki-in to promote exchange…”
“Shush—”
The audience became livelier.
Seeing the atmosphere pick up, the host smiled. “Young friend, first tell uncle, are you an Insei?”
“I am not an Insei.”
“It’s okay if you’re not an Insei. Don’t be nervous, uncle is here. By the way, please introduce yourself. Go fans might be more interested in that.”
Ao Ying picked up the microphone, cleared his throat. “Hello, Go fans. My name is Ao Ying. I’m in the second year of junior high, and my Go skill is very strong.”
As soon as his voice fell, a commotion broke out.
“That name… a foreigner? From Huaxia?”
“What a cute young friend, daring to say his Go skill is very strong in front of professionals.”
“Haha, this is how a youth should be, with light in their eyes and full of vigor.”
“Cough, cough…”
The host interrupted, “Let’s return to the Go board. What’s the appropriate move for white?”
He didn't dare let the Go fans ramble on too much; what if the young friend got scared and left crying?
“Cut and capture the corner.”
A Middle-aged Man shouted the answer, a proud look on his face.
“There’s only one way: to capture the corner. If black stone dares to play a double hane, white cannot show weakness.”
“Perhaps cut at the 3-line? Can we capture everything? Only capturing at the 2-line is a bit small.”
“Hey, you’re really greedy. I think so too.”
Chirp, chirp, chirp…
The host clapped his hands to signal for quiet. “Let’s hear the young friend’s opinion. Perhaps he can give us some different insights.”
“Ao Ying, where do you think white’s next move will be?”
“Feel free to guess. Be bold. If you’re wrong, uncle will cover for you. Uncle is very capable, a professional.”