The official Twin Stars Cup live broadcast studio featured professional players Zhu Huai'an and Zhang Dongchen as commentators for this match. Both were title holders and, apart from Yu Shao and Su Yiming, the youngest title holders in the circuit.
Currently, they were analyzing the follow-up variations after Black's pushing move. "Yu Shao's push is quite tricky. If Su Yiming extends here, and Black pokes to threaten White's cutting point, White might find themselves in an uncomfortable position," Zhu Huai'an remarked while studying the demonstration board, speaking slowly after some contemplation.
Zhang Dongchen nodded thoughtfully. "Black's poke would indeed be troublesome, but Su Yiming has clever counterplay here—what if he ignores it and plays a hane elsewhere?"
"Ignore to hane?" Zhu Huai'an pondered before shaking his head. "That's a good move, but I'm concerned Yu Shao might choose to press there."
"Press?" Zhang Dongchen frowned slightly at this suggestion.
"Yes, press," Zhu Huai'an exhaled lightly. "It might seem strange at first glance—shouldn't Black be somewhat passive here? But I have a feeling that if White ignores, Yu Shao will definitely play this way."
Focusing on the board, Zhu Huai'an continued slowly, "From studying Yu Shao's game records, I've noticed his style is remarkably straightforward. He consistently finds simple variations in the most complex situations."
"While Yu Shao's moves appear aggressive at first glance, his play is actually quite measured. He gradually maximizes the potential of every stone, developing his own style before delivering a decisive blow to his opponent."
"Yu Shao rarely initiates attacks proactively. He complicates the board position but demonstrates unexpectedly steady offensive play. He always prepares other areas first."
"Of course, he prefers sente... no, that's not entirely accurate. It's not that he attacks—it's that when he does attack, he strikes with absolute certainty, delivering fatal blows.""Before that, he's merely laying groundwork, accumulating strength." Pausing briefly, Zhu Huai'an added, "This is what I consider Yu Shao's greatest strength."
Zhang Dongchen remained silent, understanding Zhu Huai'an's implication. For nearly all Go players, seeing an opportunity means immediately seizing it; spotting a weakness prompts fierce attacks. But Yu Shao was different.
He often played weakly where others would play strongly, and suddenly turned aggressive where others would play safe, launching precisely timed offensives.
Perhaps those apparent opportunities weren't truly opportunities, those seeming weaknesses not actual weaknesses—yet few players would dare risk passing up such fleeting chances.
After all, better safe than sorry. Even if those opportunities and weaknesses might not be fully exploitable, they at least offered viable moves.
Yet Yu Shao deliberately ignored them, displaying composure that bordered on terrifying in certain situations. To achieve this required complete board awareness, mastery of the game's flow, and exhaustive calculation of all local variations—but that transcended human capability!
At that moment, on the large screen behind them, Su Yiming finally placed his stone. Zhu Huai'an and Zhang Dongchen simultaneously shifted their gaze from the demonstration board to the screen—then froze in unison.
Staring at the newly placed white stone on the displayed board, they looked as if they'd witnessed something unbelievable. After extensive discussion of possible continuations, they'd never considered that Su Yiming wouldn't play the expected extension—instead choosing...
7-11, a celestial move!
White's stone landed on the board under the world's gaze. Though separated by screens, the crisp clack of stone on wood seemed to reverberate globally, deafening in its impact.
At Tokyo's Go Institute broadcast room, Su Yiming's move plunged the room into stunned silence. Everyone stared blankly at their screens, minds momentarily wiped clean, as if frozen by some spell.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, a young man swallowed hard, gazing at the screen in awe. "Here... this..." He stammered, unable to believe his eyes despite visual confirmation. "White is surrendering the enormous territory they painstakingly built!"
Not just him—everyone in the broadcast room stared fixedly at their screens, minds roiling with shock.
......
Pyongyang, Korea. A group of professional players had gathered around a board analyzing the game's possible developments. Now, seeing Su Yiming's move, one young player involuntarily half-rose from his seat.
"Black's framework in the center is nearly formed—White shouldn't be able to venture there anymore!" His eyes widened incredulously at the screen, vision seeming to blur. "This game was supposed to be a contest between territory and influence, with both sides gaining ground—the game had miles to go!"
"Yet White abandons their massive corner territory to reach for the central heavens!" Rationally, this exchange wasn't disadvantageous—White sacrificed side territory but gained central potential, balancing territory and influence.
Yet this move bordered on unreasonable! True, if White could achieve something in the center, the sacrificed side territory would be compensated. But the side territory was secure with zero risk, whereas central development remained uncertain after sacrifice!
In this battle between territory and influence, White displayed breathtaking boldness, sacrificing side territory with world-shaking audacity... to challenge Black for control of the center!
Meanwhile, in the soundproof Go room. Yu Shao studied the board, his expression growing solemn as he observed the white stone at 3-17 that seemed to glow. He'd seen this variation but hadn't calculated deeply, never imagining Su Yiming would actually play it!
Yet Su Yiming had indeed made this move! The territory-versus-influence struggle had instantly transformed into a clash of competing frameworks!
After some thought, Yu Shao finally placed his stone. Su Yiming promptly responded with his own. Black and white stones began falling rapidly again.
All spectators watched mesmerized, sweat beading unconsciously on their brows. White stones that should never have entered the center now invaded Black's central domain, sacrificing stones as leverage to seize sente everywhere!
"After sacrificing, they're advancing triumphantly!" Many viewers grew dry-mouthed watching this. "Su Yiming's strength isn't just in fighting—it's this imagination that's truly remarkable!"
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
"Yu Shao took big points, but Su Yiming secured important areas too—in this central battle, Su Yiming actually has chances!" Countless comments flooded screens as audiences marveled at the game, unable to look away.
The Go board was a battlefield! Yu Shao, first to establish central presence, calmly surveyed the overall situation. Su Yiming had only hundreds of elite stones remaining—few in number, but after sacrifices and abandoning his base, these moved with lightning speed, a special force burning their bridges!
One side fought conventionally, while the other sought victory through unorthodox means! Pressing forward against all odds!
Su Yiming studied the board silently, face drenched yet each move executed with icy precision. "I'm faster now—direct clashes favor Black. If he plays at 4-12 to cut, I can play 4-11 to press and push back!"
"He's taken big points, but key points outweigh big points—I have resources to stir up trouble!" "Then—8-14, diagonal move!" Su Yiming swiftly placed another stone.
8-14, diagonal! Instantly, the game became perilous, undercurrents swirling as White finally revealed its dagger! "White's going for the kill!" Many exclaimed at this sight. "Su Yiming's cutting Black's eye space, compressing Black's outward influence!"
"How will Yu Shao respond?!" What made everyone hold their breath was awaiting Yu Shao's counter. "The coming choice is crucial!" "Defend? Or fight?"
Tension permeated the internet, stifling breath. Avoiding White's strong attack was one option—but then White would become too comfortable in the center. Even if Black captured all White's dead stones, dissatisfaction would linger!
But engaging meant fighting White's sacrifice-fueled momentum—even these central White stones were light, and Black wasting too many moves here might prove unprofitable! Neither option seemed fully satisfactory!
"Is there... another way?" Hearts clenched worldwide.
Yu Shao studied the board, then finally placed his stone. Clack! 12-11, cut!
"Could it be..." A red-faced man in the southern U.S. abruptly stood before his computer! "He's sacrificing here too!" A French professional gasped at his screen.
Facing White's sacrifice-powered assault, Yu Shao had played an equally unexpected move! Cut! Black too was sacrificing stones—abandoning some to gain influence, launching surprise troops to attack these White stones, a heroic act of severing one's own wrist!
"Can... can he respond like this?!" Viewers strained not to miss a single move. "Sacrificed!" Su Yiming stared fixedly at the board, resolve firm. "Then I must play 12-12—jump away!"
The board's intricate struggles affected the whole situation. After White's sacrifice for influence, any misstep was unacceptable—with Black sacrificing here, White couldn't risk mutual destruction! Only flexibility remained!
"Flexing toward the lower side!" A middle-aged player at Northern Go Academy murmured. "Another clever move!" "It's like watching war unfold," a white-haired elder beside him nodded gravely, feeling pressure radiating from the screen.
"Su Yiming and Yu Shao are like seasoned generals—ruthless to enemies, even more so to themselves!" ......
Russia. "No, no!" A tall man stubbed out his cigarette, glasses reflecting the game on his screen, blue eyes beneath intensely focused. "Perhaps it's not just flexibility!"
"Su Yiming wants more—Black's shape looks solid but may hide weaknesses!" "Flexing here isn't just killing two birds with one stone—it might be three!" As more stones fell, his eyes gradually brightened until he clenched his fists tightly!
"Exactly!" "White actually has designs on Black's dragon too!" "This is too—" But seeing Yu Shao's next move, his voice cut off abruptly! "Black's become light!"
He could hardly believe his eyes. Re-examining the board, realization dawned as sweat trickled down. "White's earlier neglect caused local weaknesses—their shape isn't as thick as Black's!"
"So! So Black treats his sacrifice lightly! He completely ignores White's attack to fight for sente! If White tries to kill, Black yields!" "But White dares not act now!" This realization left him dumbstruck, staring blankly at the game.
Time passed. Battle smoke continued spreading across the board as both sides vied fiercely, each move aimed at the opponent's annihilation. Both fighting desperately from precarious positions, yet both surviving miraculously! The game's brilliance was almost worship-inducing!
"White's quietly building framework in the center!" "White's earth-shaking sacrifice—after so many moves, might actually create something substantial centrally!" "Thus, while White's central framework can't match Black's, their dead stones remain useful, giving Black pause!"
"Counting shows little difference, but if this becomes a framework battle, it's Su Yiming's stage!" "Does Black have any options?" All eyes remained glued to the game, endlessly calculating possible continuations.
Yet even after racking their brains, they could only conclude: seemingly... no options! Has Black-White framework confrontation become inevitable?!
After four more moves, it was Su Yiming's turn again. Silently studying the board, he finally reached into his bowl and picked up a stone. "It's over."
As he placed the stone, Su Yiming looked up at Yu Shao. "My White has formed framework in the center!" "Now, it's my stage!" "This game is only truly beginning now!"
On the board—8-15, hanging!