As the referee's voice fell, Yu Shao immediately reached into the Go stone container, grabbing a handful of white stones and clenching them in his palm.
On the other side, Su Yiming promptly picked out two black stones from his container and placed them on the board.
Yu Shao opened his hand, and seven white stones fell onto the board with crisp "click-clack" sounds.
Seven stones - an odd number.
This meant Yu Shao would take black and make the first move, while Su Yiming would play white.
Both players collected the stones before them and returned them to their containers. Then, Su Yiming bowed slightly first and said, "I look forward to learning from you."
Yu Shao silently returned the bow: "I look forward to learning from you."
The game had begun!
Yu Shao focused intently on the board, slowly reaching into his container to pick up a black stone. Under the world's watchful gaze, he gently placed the first move.
Click!Column 16, Row 4!
The star point!
A dazzling black stone landed firmly in the upper right corner of the board, officially opening this titanic clash!
Su Yiming sat before the board, calmly observing the intersecting lines and the black stone occupying the star point.
At this moment, he seemed to forget everything.
He forgot he was living 180 years in the future, forgot all that had happened this past year, forgot where he even was.
The only things remaining in his memory were countless Go games and records.
His eyes could only see the board before him. A hundred years ago, the board was like this; a hundred years later, it remained unchanged. Though the stars might shift and seas turn to fields, some things never changed.
The board remained, the stones remained, and so did the two players facing each other across it!
If Go players from over a century ago could see Su Yiming sitting at the board now, one name would inevitably come to mind:
Shen Yi!
This posture, this demeanor at the board - they were identical to Shen Yi's.
The Go saint from over a century ago had traversed time to be reborn over a hundred years later.
All to pursue higher realms of Go artistry.
"Click."
Finally, with that crisp sound, Su Yiming reached into his container, picked up a white stone, and gently placed it.
Click!
Column 4, Row 16 - the star point!
The hand reaching into the container was Shen Yi's.
But the stone being placed belonged to Su Yiming!
Yu Shao observed the white stone at the lower left star point, then quickly reached for another black stone and placed it.
Click!
Column 4, Row 3 - the small knight's approach!
Su Yiming promptly responded with his white stone.
Click!
Column 16, Row 16 - the star point!
With these moves, the pattern was set: small knight's approach versus twin-star formation, black and white standing in opposition!
Though the game had just begun with only four stones placed, the referee and recorder found themselves unconsciously holding their breaths in tension.
Yu Shao's face showed no expression, so calm it sent chills down one's spine. Seeing Su Yiming's move, he immediately picked up another stone and swiftly placed it.
Click!
Column 4, Row 6 - the large knight's move defending the corner!
"The large knight's move defending the corner..."
Seeing this move, both referees and the recorder inhaled sharply.
Over a year ago, such a move would have been unimaginable. Even now, it remained rare - only Yu Shao employed it repeatedly.
People said Go strategy had changed, that a new era had come. This large knight's move, unimaginable to players just a year ago, was the best proof!
"The heavenly jump defending the corner?"
This large knight's move would be inconceivable even to modern players, let alone those from over a century ago.
Yet seeing Yu Shao's move, Su Yiming's expression didn't change at all.
However, this time Su Yiming didn't immediately place his stone, instead quietly studying the board.
Time passed minute by minute...
The Go room was utterly silent.
"The old him had weaknesses - he focused too much on the whole board, hesitating in unclear local situations," Su Yiming thought, his eyes reflecting the board.
"But now he's different."
"He won't hesitate in ambiguous local situations due to considering the big picture."
"To defeat him, simply waiting for mistakes won't work."
"He won't make mistakes anymore!"
"That means victory depends purely on skill level and judgment of the situation!"
Su Yiming's mind flashed with memories of the third National Hand Championship game - he remembered every one of Yu Shao's moves vividly.
"Judging from that third game, if the battle drags on into a close endgame... I probably stand no chance."
"My strength lies in building frameworks, creating grand formations, fighting in the center, crushing opponents with midgame attacking power and positional balance."
"So I must stir up chaos, avoid peaceful positions, steer the game toward fierce fighting, and build influence in the center!"
Su Yiming's expression grew slightly stern.
"I know how difficult it is to fulfill all these conditions."
"Against others, I'm confident I can create the positions I want. But against him... it will be extremely tricky."
"This means I must risk complete annihilation, needing wolf-like sharpness to fight him to the death!"
Finally, Su Yiming reached into his container and picked up a stone.
"Then let's begin!"
The next moment -
Click!
Column 17, Row 3 - the 3-3 point invasion!
"He's invading the 3-3 point!"
Seeing Su Yiming's long-thought-out move directly hitting the 3-3 point, the referees and recorder gasped, swallowing hard.
The 3-3 invasion was no longer surprising - it had become quite common in domestic and international tournaments.
But while common now, almost no one used it against Yu Shao, since he was the one who pioneered this move!
The only player who ever used Yu Shao's own 3-3 invasion against him was Su Yiming!
And now, facing Yu Shao again, it was Su Yiming playing the 3-3 invasion once more!
Seeing this, Yu Shao showed no surprise either, quickly placing his response.
Click!
Column 16, Row 3 - the block!
The moment the black stone landed, Su Yiming followed up with his white stone.
Click!
Column 17, Row 4 - the extension!
"He extended..."
Yu Shao glanced at the board, paused briefly, then placed another stone.
Click!
Column 17, Row 6 - the small knight's move!
"This..."
The recorder and referees froze at Yu Shao's move, then simultaneously widened their eyes at the board, mouths going dry.
Not just them - every Go enthusiast worldwide watching this game felt their hearts racing!
The small knight's move after the 3-3 invasion!
Everyone recognized this sequence. Though it had appeared less than a year ago, countless players had already bled on the board because of it!
This variation was too complex - so complex it made even the best calculators shudder. In under a year, it had earned a fearsome reputation destined for Go history!
It was as if everyone could hear thunder accompanying a great storm, torrential rain threatening to flood the world!
The Great Storm!
No one expected Su Yiming to use the 3-3 invasion against Yu Shao, nor that Yu Shao would retaliate in kind by initiating the Great Storm Joseki to test Su Yiming's response!
"Once this stone is placed, if white bumps against it, both sides will be locked in mortal combat with no retreat," the left referee thought, eyelids twitching as he stared intently at the board, forehead beading with sweat.
"Neither has full control - either could collapse. Too many variables, too much risk. No one plays this unless desperate - it's the most vicious life-or-death tactic!"
The recorder seemed to foresee countless variations if white bumped - once that happened, the battle would shake heaven and earth, spreading across the entire board until one side was annihilated!
And the variations were impossibly complex, with endless branches no one could fully calculate in a lifetime!
"Are they really going to fight this fiercely in their very first game?"
Su Yiming calmly studied the board, not moving immediately.
Yu Shao's small knight's move completely surprised him.
Though the Great Storm Joseki derived from the 3-3 invasion, Yu Shao had never once played it before today!
At first, Su Yiming didn't understand why - when he played this sequence, Yu Shao's responses were flawless.
But after reviewing the third National Hand Championship game, he understood.
The variations were too complex and violent.
The small knight's move staked everything on one throw - a single misstep meant total defeat. Subconsciously, Yu Shao still aimed for eternity, resisting such uncertain moves.
If not completely confident, he wouldn't play it.
Yet now - Yu Shao had played it!
The board's development now depended on white's response.
If white bumped, the position would spiral out of control, leaving no room for retreat - both sides would be forced to fight to the death!
"Bumping leads to all-out warfare where victory depends purely on calculation," Su Yiming thought steadily, weighing the options.
"If I bump, this game won't become the steady, close endgame I fear - we'll be locked in immediate combat."
"But once I bump, the game becomes uncontrollable."
"Some risks are necessary - but not this one."
Finally deciding, Su Yiming picked up a stone and gently placed it.
Click!
Column 17, Row 5 - the hane!
Seeing this, online viewers erupted!
"He... didn't respond?"
"White haned instead, reverting to the extended variation after the 3-3 invasion?"
"Why not answer? This is the Great Storm Joseki!"
"Yeah, not taking the challenge?"
"Judging from the three Great Go Player Tournament games, Su Yiming's extremely strong in complex fights - every move carries immense pressure. This situation should favor him!"
"Besides, he pioneered the Great Storm Joseki! Why wouldn't he answer?"
"Su Yiming definitely didn't avoid it from lack of confidence. But why?!"
The Twin Stars Cup's official stream flooded with comments.
But as moves continued alternating, discussions gradually faded as viewers immersed themselves in the game again.
Or rather - waited for Su Yiming to provide answers through subsequent developments!
Black blocked!
White pushed!
Black extended high!
White defended the corner with a small knight's move!
...
With both sides moving quickly after avoiding the Great Storm Joseki, several peaceful moves followed, the position calm with both simply building frameworks, no sign of conflict.
Yet this very tranquility made observers increasingly tense, sensing building pressure.
It was the calm before the storm.
Named the Twin Stars Cup and deciding title ownership, this game couldn't possibly end peacefully - an earth-shaking battle must come!
Not at the Great Storm Joseki, but surely at some critical moment later!
In the Go room, the female recorder suddenly realized something as she watched the board.
"Is Su Yiming planning to jump on the lower side?" she thought intensely, calculating variations. "After black pushes through, white cuts - then fierce fighting erupts below!"
Click.
Just then, stone-grabbing sounds resumed.
The next moment - Su Yiming placed his stone.
Click!
Column 17, Row 11 - the extension!
Seeing this, the recorder blinked in surprise.
Not the expected small knight's move, but...
"Such an ancient technique..." she mused, suddenly feeling like she was watching an antique game record.
"Though people say Shen Yi is Shen Yi and Su Yiming is Su Yiming... this extension has classical Go's flavor."
"It's still good - but hardly any modern players would play this way!"