I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 308: A Duel of Go Players, Only on the Board

The final battle of the team captains concluded with a breathtaking Go match, finally determining the victor!

Higashiyama Kaoru won—by seven and a half points!

But even though the game had ended, no one could tear their eyes away from the board. Everyone remained deeply immersed in the shock of what they had just witnessed, unable to break free from the awe it inspired.

After a long silence, Wu Shuheng finally spoke.

“He didn’t win a title?”

“He didn’t last year. He lost to Meijin Watanabe Hikaru in the Meijin title challenge.”

A female player spoke up, her voice a bit uncertain:

“But this year… I’m not sure.”

Everyone fell silent again, turning to look at the other ongoing matches.

“That match…”

After a moment, Su Yiming suddenly looked at Yu Shao and asked,

“Would you say it was a good game?”

Hearing the question, Yu Shao finally pulled his gaze away from the TV screen and looked down at the board in front of him.

After a brief pause, Yu Shao slowly replied:

“Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t.”

If you ignored the flawed strategies and misjudgments early on and focused solely on the mid-to-late game, on the clash between black and white stones—then yes, it was undeniably a brilliant game.

Although Higashiyama Kaoru’s performance in the second half of the match was breathtaking, the brilliance of that mid-game and beyond was still built atop foundational errors.

Su Yiming blinked at Yu Shao’s answer, but he didn’t look too surprised. A small smile curved his lips.

“After watching that game, I really want to play a round against him.”

“It might not have been a ‘bad game’ per se, but perhaps it was a plain one.”

Park Jichang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking toward Otoda Shinobu.

“So, when he said it was a bad game… maybe he was just referring to the first few moves?”

At those words, Otoda glanced up at Park Jichang.

Park Jichang met his gaze steadily, saying nothing more.

The captain match had ended, but the other games were still underway. Yet, after witnessing the brilliance of that main event, none of the remaining boards seemed to hold anyone’s attention.

Compared to the stunning battle between the captains, the other games paled in significance.

In the seventh board match, Fujiwara Terashima narrowly defeated Qu Honglian by just half a point during the endgame.

Next came the sixth board match. Against all expectations, Komishi Keikawa, who had held a slight advantage throughout, was ultimately overturned by Shin Ze Xu, who seized on a single misstep and turned the tide. Shin Ze Xu won by eight and a half points.

Then came the fifth board. In a brutal fight over nearly 180 moves, Lee Junhyuk lost every last stone to Murakami Toshikazu, resulting in a complete defeat. Qu Honglian claimed victory with a mid-game dragon slay.

The scoreboard now stood at seven to seven.

The final result would come down to the fourth board match.

In that game, Qu Hongwu and Yu Shao battled through to the very last phase. Yu Shao had been at a disadvantage, but Su Yiming faltered during the endgame. Qu Hongwu’s skillful control in the final moments secured a narrow victory—by just one and a half points.

“It’s done… On the Korean-Japanese team, only Lee Junhyuk and Shin Ze Xu won.”

After a moment of silence, Yu Shao finally said,

“Japan wins—eight to seven. They’ve taken their revenge this year.”

Qin Lang, Le Haoqiang, and Gu Chuan all stared silently at their own Go boards. The others were equally quiet, their expressions mixed.

Though the Korean-Japanese team had lost, their strength was undeniable.

Especially Qu Honglian—even though she ultimately lost that match, had she not pushed Higashiyama Kaoru to such limits, there never would have been a game of such legendary proportions.

In the end, a great Go match can only be born from a duel between two geniuses.

Xu Zijin stared at Pei Yan’s game, unconsciously biting her lip. Although the match between Higashiyama Kaoru and Lee Junhyuk was earth-shattering, her heart was with fellow female player Pei Yuyan.

“Tomorrow is our match against the Korean-Chinese team.”

Ma Zhengyu spoke again.

“Get some good rest. Give it your best tomorrow.”

At his words, the group silently began to disperse, each returning to their own rooms.

Later, Yu Shao left the analysis room and took the elevator up to the twelfth floor. He and Su Yiming walked to the hallway corner and were just about to part ways when Su Yiming suddenly called out.

“Yu Shao.”

Yu Shao stopped and turned to look at him.

“The way you define a ‘great game’—is it completely different from all the matches before?”

Su Yiming asked softly.

Yu Shao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Then I agree with you.”

Receiving his reply, Su Yiming turned around without another word and headed back to his room.

With his back to Yu Shao, Su Yiming’s expression hardened, his voice cold and steady as he muttered to himself:

“In four thousand years, not a single game has truly deserved to be called great.”

The first day of the China-Korea-Japan Team Tournament had shaken the entire Go world. No one had expected the match between Lee Junhyuk and Higashiyama Kaoru to reach such an astonishing height.

For one to rise, thousands must fall.

It was as if Higashiyama Kaoru had sacrificed half the board’s white stones to ultimately bring the black side to its knees.

This wasn’t because Lee Junhyuk was weak—it was precisely because he was strong.

Lee Junhyuk had forced Higashiyama into a corner, making such an extraordinary move the only path to victory.

No one would forget that opening ceremony when Yu Shao declared:

“The duel of Go players exists only on the board!”

And now, this game was the most powerful rebuttal of all.

This was a match destined for history. A game of such brilliance that it far surpassed anything Higashiyama Kaoru had ever played before.

Just this one match alone was enough to etch his name into the annals of Go.

Tomorrow, it would be Team China vs. Team Korea.

Everyone was waiting. Waiting for what tomorrow would bring.

The night passed.

At nine in the morning, Yu Shao got dressed, quickly freshened up, and took the elevator to the analysis room. He pushed the door open and entered.

Inside, Ma Zhengyu, Le Haoqiang, and Qin Lang were already present. Xu Zijin, Zheng Qin, and other accompanying players had arrived as well.

Only Su Yiming and Gu Chuan were still missing.

Shortly after Yu Shao sat down, the two of them arrived.

Once everyone was present, Ma Zhengyu said in a low voice,

“Alright, it’s about time. Let’s head to the venue.”

He led the five team members toward the competition hall, located right next to the hotel lobby.

As they stepped into the venue, all eyes turned toward the six of them.

But clearly, all the attention was focused on one person—Yu Shao.

Higashiyama Kaoru’s performance yesterday had already proven his strength. Now the world wanted to see—what kind of game would Yu Shao play today?

The Korean-Chinese team was already seated in their positions. When they saw the five Chinese players arrive, all eyes turned toward them.

After yesterday’s loss to Japan, the Korean-Chinese team wore heavy, subdued expressions. They said nothing, just stared quietly at the newcomers.

Seeing this, Qin Lang, Le Haoqiang, and Gu Chuan also tensed slightly.

“Just play your own game.”

Ma Zhengyu took a deep breath.

“Take your seats—the match is about to begin.”

At his words, the five players finally moved to their respective boards.

Board One: Yu Shao, 2-dan vs. Lee Junhyuk, 7-dan

Board Two: Su Yiming, 2-dan vs. Park Jichang, 8-dan

Board Three: Qin Lang, 6-dan vs. Kim Chao’en, 7-dan

Board Four: Le Haoqiang, 6-dan vs. Pei Yan, 6-dan

Board Five: Gu Chuan, 5-dan vs. Shin Xuze, 6-dan

The ten players were now seated across from one another. Though the match hadn’t started yet, the tension in the air was already electric.

Korea’s team had lost yesterday—today, they had to turn things around. Another loss would relegate them to third place, an outcome they simply could not accept.

China’s team, on the other hand, hadn’t had a strong showing in five years. This was their shot at redemption. No one would back down.

But in the end—only one side could win.

Across the world, viewers waited in front of TVs and monitors, watching for the match to begin.

Even in the Japanese team’s analysis room, the players stared at the broadcast in total concentration.

Especially Higashiyama Kaoru, his eyes deadly serious.

Minute by minute, the time ticked by.

“Time!”

Soon after, a referee in a black suit checked his watch, then raised his head and declared:

“Main board match—Yu Shao, 2-dan vs. Lee Junhyuk, 7-dan. Proceed with nigiri to determine first move.”

“The result will also decide seating order for the remaining boards.”

Lee Junhyuk immediately reached into the bowl and grabbed a handful of white stones. Yu Shao took out two black stones and placed them on the board.

Three white stones.

Two black stones.

Lee Junhyuk will play black.

Yu Shao will play white.