I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 255: A Presence That Devours All

What was happening in the review room, of course, was unknown to the audience watching the qualification match on TV or online.

Seeing Yi Yien’s first two moves land on the small points, forming a diagonal small-point opening, viewers didn’t think much of it. Most just figured Yi Yien had opted for that style.

After all, some players prefer the double star, some go for star and small point, others prefer diagonal small point or parallel small point—it’s all normal. Purely personal choice.

When Black chose the diagonal small-point opening, not long after, Yu Shao reached into the bowl, picked up a white stone, and placed it on the board under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Column 16, Row 16—Star Point!

White’s first two moves landed on the star points—forming a double star opening, clashing head-to-head with Black’s diagonal small-point setup.

Diagonal small point emphasizes real territory and board balance. Its downside is a slower opening and high cost in outer-area battles. Double star, on the other hand, focuses on central influence and speed, but has weak corners and relies heavily on follow-up.

The debate between double star and diagonal small point has lasted for over a hundred years—and still has no answer. It never will. The answer only lies within the board—in the hands of the one placing the stones.

Inside the Playing Room, Yi Yien took a deep breath, reached into the bowl again, and quickly placed his next move.

Column 3, Row 5—Small Knight’s Enclosure!

Yu Shao studied the board. After a moment, he reached in, took out a stone, and responded.

Tap!

Column 15, Row 3—Small Knight’s Approach!

“He’s approached,” Yi Yien muttered, staring intently at the board. Even though this game wouldn’t include a 3-3 invasion, he didn’t relax his guard in the slightest.

After all, in the previous five matches, Yu Shao didn’t just win through deep 3-3 understanding—his raw strength and deep reading were equally terrifying.

At this point, Black had many choices—small knight’s move, extension, double attack... The direction of this game now depended entirely on this next move.

“All right, let’s go with this!”

After thinking for a moment, Yi Yien steadied himself, his expression stern, and decisively reached into the bowl to place his next move.

Tap!

Column 13, Row 4—One-Space High Pincer!

Seeing this move, both referees and the female recorder nearby tensed up visibly, their expressions darkening.

If Black had gone for a small knight’s move, the board would’ve stayed relatively calm. But this one-space high pincer directly posed a threat to the approached White stone—clearly a move meant to provoke intense combat!

No matter what, Yu Shao had already played five qualifying matches. More importantly, in all five games, it was him who initiated the complex fights—seizing the pace with deep reading and whole-board vision, deciding life and death.

That kind of playstyle was an intense drain on energy and focus. Naturally, there was concern: could White still hold up under the pressure of yet another game?

White stared hard at the board. After a moment, he once again reached into the bowl and slammed down a move.

Tap!

Column 18, Row 8—Attach!

Seeing the fierce attach move, Yi Yien quickly responded.

Column 12, Row 3—Hane!

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Black and White began trading moves back and forth on the board, the crisp sound of stones falling loud and piercing!

Not long after, in the American team’s review room—

“Black’s throw-in on the edge captured a White stone and built thickness, but after sacrificing a few stones, White leaped out from the upper right—limiting Black’s development on the upper left.”

Wan Jing examined the board and then looked up at the TV screen. “Yi Yien’s next move should be an atari on White.”

Moments later, Black dropped another move.

But the move was unexpected.

Column 17, Row 14—Small Knight’s Approach!

“He didn’t atari—he tenuki’d and approached the upper-right corner?”

The group quickly replicated the move on their own board, frowning slightly.

The upper-right pattern wasn’t resolved yet—it was still hanging. Normally, you’d finish the joseki, but Yi Yien had instead tenuki’d and gone to approach the corner?

“He doesn’t want to settle the shape—he’s trying to keep the board open,” Zeng Jun said, reading Yi Yien’s intention. “He wants to win through a chaotic fight mid-game.”

Ma Dong nodded. “Also, he’s likely wary that White’s extension on the right would make it hard for Black to utilize his outer influence. So he tenuki’d, hoping to enclose territory on the right.”

Everyone continued discussing and replaying the variations on their board.

Then, White made another move on screen:

Column 14, Row 17—Small Knight’s Move!

“He chose to respond with a small knight.”

It wasn’t one of the responses they’d just gone over, but no one seemed surprised. They cleared the board and replicated the move.

Soon, Black made his next move:

Tap!

Column 16, Row 10—High Extension!

“As Master Ma Dong predicted, Yi Yien extended on the side.”

Seeing the move, Wan Jing exhaled and smiled. “Black is putting all his development potential into the right side. He’s trying to lure White into a kill zone—Yi Yien’s game plan is clear!”

“No 3-3 this time, and Yi Yien doesn’t look fazed by Yu Shao’s momentum. He’s got fighting spirit, and this setup is very precise!” a blond youth chimed in.

“Not so fast.”

Ma Dong adjusted stones on the board, replaying a few moves quickly. “White will probably attach next. Black will most likely go for a two-space extension, continuing to build on the right. But White has strong options here.”

From the crowd, Majie spoke up: “A long or a jump—they could both become passive moves that lead to initiative, and also offer ways to invade Black’s formation.”

“Exactly.”

Ma Dong nodded while placing stones. “Those two moves might seem passive, but they’re actually sente and pose real threats to Black.”

On screen, White made the next move:

Column 14, Row 5—Attach!

Soon after, Black followed up:

Column 16, Row 7—Two-Space Extension!

Everything matched Ma Dong’s prediction exactly. The crowd stared at the screen, waiting to see whether White would go for the long extension or the jump, pulling off another passive-turned-active strategy.

At last, White moved.

And when the move landed, everyone froze—then immediately widened their eyes.

There it was.

Column 15, Row 7—Attach!

“He went straight in?!”

The blond youth who’d spoken earlier was stunned—he couldn’t believe White actually attached right next to Black’s two-space extension!

Even Ma Dong frowned slightly at the screen.

It wasn’t a terrible move—White got something out of it—but it had a hint of a crude style. If Black simply retreated next, he could reinforce his right-side territory again.

“This move grabs absolute sente, and blocks Black’s hane,” Wan Jing said, staring at the screen. “But White’s jump and long also could’ve led to passive-into-active sequences. By attaching here, White strengthened Black’s formation.”

Someone sighed with relief. “After five games in a row, looks like he’s finally worn out. He missed the jump and long variations—this one’s probably going to Yi Yien.”

In the crowd, Zeng Jun quietly said, “If you only win because your opponent’s exhausted... even a win’s not worth bragging about.”

No one argued. Silence followed.

Thinking back to the previous five matches, even as opponents, they couldn’t help but feel a twinge of respect.

Soon, Black made his next move:

Column 16, Row 8—Retreat!

As Yi Yien’s stone hit the board, everyone replicated the move in sync.

Tap. Tap. Tap…

Black and White continued spreading across the board, soon becoming entangled in the lower-right.

Not long after, White dropped another move—and the entire review room was caught off guard.

Column 17, Row 13—Hane!

“He didn’t stand—he hane’d on the outside?”

They studied the board for a moment and quickly realized the beauty of the move.

Their expressions grew more solemn, and a strange complexity settled over the room.

“Standing would’ve gained more territory, sure—but this hane… it shows incredible whole-board vision...”

On the screen, the game continued. As the black and white stones fell, everyone’s expression gradually shifted—growing heavier.

Finally, Wan Jing spoke in a firm voice: “Though Yi Yien gained a lot on the right, White’s moves were excellent. The positional judgment is top-notch—the board is almost completely even!”

Everyone drew a sharp breath. Clearly, things weren’t going as favorably as they’d hoped. The situation was nowhere near a decisive lead.

“Looks like Yi Yien has to initiate a full-on battle with White. Otherwise… this game’s far from stable,” someone muttered, glancing nervously at the screen.

Just then, White moved again.

The next move left one viewer completely stunned.

He froze, as if seeing something impossible. His eyes went wide, and he cried out, “Did he just jump straight into the center?!”

The whole room paused, finally tearing their eyes off the board to stare at the screen.

And there it was.

Everyone’s eyes widened—even Ma Dong looked momentarily stunned.

On the board—

Column 13, Row 13—Two-Space Jump!

A lone white stone stood proudly in the vast, open center.

Its presence devoured all.