Ao Ying quickly scanned the board as the host asked his question.
On the large Go board,
black stone and white were playing Two-star vs. Two-star.
On the fifth move, black stone attached above the Right Lower Corner, and white played elsewhere, attaching in the upper right corner.
black stone pressed, white blocked, choosing the same sequence as a joseki.
However, on the very next move, black stone deviated from the joseki, aggressively playing a double hane on the five-line, intending to bash white’s head.
white patiently captured on the four-line, seeking to resolve the conflict.
black stone connected, white connected, black stone blocked, and white played a hane towards the corner, seeking both territory and stability.
black stone continued with a double hane, its intention clear: to halve white's territory and break its stability.
"Row four, column twelve, retreat."
A clear sound rang out.
Based on Ao Ying’s answer, the host placed a stone.
"Retreat? That’s too cowardly!"
The Middle-aged Man who had previously suggested cutting and capturing loudly complained.
Immediately, he was echoed by several others.
"white retreats, implying black stone gained from the double hane in the corner? Including the first double hane, white has retreated twice locally."
"Chinese boy, Go cannot be played like this. One step back leads to step after step back."
"I just praised you for being spirited, but it turns out you’re a coward."
"Hey, hey, don’t bully the kid. It’s normal for his Go strength to be a bit lacking at such a young age."
The host was pleased with the reaction from the audience. There should be debate, otherwise, he’d look like a monkey on stage alone.
"Ao Ying, your choice isn’t wrong, it’s just too stable."
"If black stone plays a defensive move in the corner, what should white do then?"
Ao Ying pointed, "Row three, column nine, large knight’s move."
Large knight’s move?
The host was momentarily stunned. His original intention was to say white's retreat was slow, not to actually ask for the next move.
The audience erupted.
"Large knight’s move? white is reinforcing the upper right corner again?"
"I told you he was a coward! white retreated to take sente, being cowardly is one thing, I can somewhat understand that, but playing a large knight’s move just gives sente back to black stone, tsk tsk…"
"Putting aside what happened before, I support the kid on this large knight’s move. Since he’s already retreated, he might as well completely stabilize the upper right corner."
"Does it need to be completely stable? What’s wrong with white retreating and then playing elsewhere?"
"Playing elsewhere? black stone plays a small knight’s move on the three-line, aiming at the lower three-line, preparing to overturn white. Isn’t that uncomfortable?"
"Uncomfortable? white blocks on the two-line. I dare you to overturn me. It’s like Mount Tai pressing down."
Seeing the argument below grow more heated, the host wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. This generation of Go fans was truly difficult to manage, no wonder his partner didn’t show up.
"Go fans, listen to me, listen to me."
"Cough, cough… The correct answer is white cutting and capturing on the two-line, entering a fight."
"If black stone is unwilling to live in the corner in a cramped manner, then capturing black stone will lead to stability."
"If black stone chooses to fight for the corner, white can retreat later."
The host demonstrated the variations one by one.
Immediately, the situation turned into a fierce local battle between black stone and white.
Who would win and who would lose?
Only after fighting would they know.
After his explanation, the Go fans in the audience praised him.
"Ah, so that’s how it is. As expected of a professional."
"The professional Go players of the Kansai Ki-in are quite impressive too. I didn't even think of fighting, I was just focused on black stone giving up the corner."
"Chinese boy, be bolder in the future, don’t be a coward again."
That’s it?
Ao Ying’s face darkened.
Before he could retort, a little girl ran onto the stage, bowing to the host, "Ah, I’m so sorry, I’m late."
"Student, thank you for filling in for me."
"I’ll take over from here. The Go fans didn’t scare you, did they?"
Looking at the little girl who was about his age, Ao Ying smiled, "It’s fine, I’m used to it."
In his previous life, as a Go streamer, there were even more haters. Once, on a forum, there was a long post criticizing his Go play, which made him break down and cry. Since then, his thick-skinned index has soared.
With the main person present, Ao Ying automatically excused himself, "I’ll leave first, I have something else to do."
"Ah, when you have time, come find me on the third floor. I want to treat you to something. I’m an Insei."
The little girl hastily finished speaking and returned to her hosting position.
Ao Ying waved his hand, shaking his head as he walked towards the staircase, "Kansai Ki-in… The quality of their Go players is worrying."
Watching his retreating back, the little girl smiled, "Go fans, my name is Nase Asumi."
Saying this, she bowed.
"For the delay, I apologize for my lateness."
"Let’s continue with the Go game."
"Actually, the single retreat proposed by that student for white is more suitable than choosing to fight."
Asumi removed several stones, restoring the board to the shape where black stone had played two double hanes.
"Oh?"
The host looked curious. He knew the little girl was of average skill among the Insei at the main Ki-in, and her Go strength might not be much worse than a Kansai professional 1-dan.
In an even game, he would have at most a 50-60% win rate against her.
"white’s retreat and large knight’s move for reinforcement seem slow, but they are actually very stable. No one disagrees with this, right?"
Asumi revealed a sweet smile.
"No disagreement. white’s stones are alive, and black stone cannot attack them."
The host responded.
Asumi nodded, "Now count the territory. white has quite a bit."
"Suppose black stone didn’t play the first double hane and retreated according to the joseki. Wouldn't the final shape be very similar to this?"
"In the actual game, white’s retreat and large knight’s move restored the basic joseki. white didn’t fall behind in territory, so it certainly wasn’t a loss."
Saying this, Asumi laid out the basic joseki in the Right Lower Corner, comparing it to the upper right corner.
"It really is very similar!"
An old man stood up, leaning on his cane.
"So that Chinese boy was dissecting the joseki, restoring the disrupted moves."
Another Middle-aged Man exclaimed, a look of sudden realization on his face.
"If it wasn’t arranged by the show, and that boy could see the correct answer in a few seconds, his Go strength is probably not low."
"Remember? He introduced himself by saying he was strong. He wasn’t lying."
"China is truly mysterious. Any boy who appears is so formidable."
Hearing the Go fans praise Ao Ying, the host’s face darkened, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Even if we consider white’s retreat and large knight’s move as restoring the joseki, fighting with a cut and capture is still more suitable."
"black stone’s two double hanes were excessive. Not punishing black stone and merely restoring the joseki only encourages the opponent’s arrogance."
"In professional Go games, besides what’s on the board, momentum is also very important, and white’s retreat didn’t consider this."
The host’s mouth curved into a grin, growing more excited as he spoke, as if he had gained the upper hand.
Glancing over, Asumi arranged the board to the cutting and capturing joseki, where black stone captured the corner and white jumped out.
Slap!
A black stone stone was placed down heavily, a forcing move on white’s jump.
"Locally, can white really manage this fight?"
At Asumi’s question, the host stared intently at the large Go board, his brow furrowed.
Cutting and capturing only felt good for a moment, without considering the opponent’s counterattack.
On the outside, black stone had a strong wall aiding its attack. white wouldn’t die, but it wasn't in a particularly good position either.
white was definitely at a local disadvantage, even if it was slight, it was still a disadvantage, which professionals would not accept.
"This… this, my move resulted in a slight loss."
The host lowered his head, like a defeated rooster.
At this admission of error, the Go fans were in an uproar.
"What the heck, he’s not even as good as a child."
"No wonder the Kansai Ki-in sends professional Go players to the main Ki-in to study."
The host quickly bowed, "I apologize, it was my mistake."
At this moment,
white moved on the live stream screen.
A single retreat.