I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 335: The Clash

The game had begun.

Stones were falling, one after another.

“After Li You, 8-dan, chose to extend along the side, Yu Shao, 2-dan, responded by ignoring the move and flying in to approach the lower-left corner. Eyeing the White stone placed at the 3-4 point, he's clearly preparing for a strong attack.”

The young player recording the match diligently jotted down every move, heart pounding with excitement.

“But Li You’s response to Yu Shao’s approach was shockingly aggressive. He went straight for a low, three-space pincer—clearly showing he’s ready to fight to the death!”

Why?

As a long-time fan of Yu Shao, the recorder had studied all of his past games. Yu Shao was well-known for his aggressive, fight-loving style. Once the board became complicated, few could match his strength in combat.

But Li You—why would he pick a fight with someone like Yu Shao?

Just then, Yu Shao examined the board, hesitated briefly, then reached into the bowl and placed his next move.

6th column, 16th row: High Knight’s Move!

“A Large Diagonal?!”

The recorder blinked in surprise.

The 3-4 point, a one-space jump, and then a large knight’s move enclosure—this was the start of the infamous Large Diagonal pattern. The very shape that recently caused a massive storm in the Go world was now being played again—by the very player at the heart of that storm!

Despite the controversy, Yu Shao had calmly laid it out again.

Li You showed no reaction.

He quickly made his move:

5th column, 16th row: Diagonal attachment.

Just like in Yu Shao’s prior game, Li You didn’t respond with a shoulder hit (kakari) but chose the diagonal—a quieter, more balanced option.

Yu Shao replied immediately:

5th column, 15th row: Hane.

Li You:

6th column, 16th row: Tiger’s Mouth.

“No cut this time—he went straight for the tiger’s mouth.”

The recorder was surprised again.

In this situation, both a cut and a tiger’s mouth were valid options. The cut would lead to a wild, complicated fight. The tiger’s mouth offered stability and more territory, but at the cost of initiative.

So how far would Yu Shao extend?

7th column, 16th row: Extend.

White: 7th column, 17th row: Crawl.

Black: 8th column, 16th row: Extend.

White: 8th column, 17th row: Crawl.

The pattern continued—Black extending at the fourth line, White crawling along the third.

After three moves of crawling, White jumped out:

10th column, 17th row: Jump.

“He knew that if he kept crawling, Black would simply ignore him and take initiative elsewhere. If White couldn’t launch a follow-up attack against Black’s wall, he’d fall behind. So instead, he jumped out early.”

Yu Shao evaluated the shift, then struck quickly:

3rd column, 9th row: Pincer attack.

The pressure was on.

Li You furrowed his brow. After a few minutes’ thought, he played:

5th column, 11th row: Jump.

The battle spread rapidly.

“Both sides are playing with tremendous efficiency—each move balances influence and territory with astonishing precision.”

Yu Shao’s expression turned serious. He responded:

3rd column, 5th row: Retreat.

Li You: 5th column, 4th row: Block.

Yu Shao followed up:

9th column, 4th row: Two-space extension.

“Despite the exchange, Black kept sente, suppressed White’s development above, and now his central and lower stones are forming a powerful influence.”

He glanced across the board and decisively made his move:

17th column, 8th row: Invasion!

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room.

“This move is brutal. Black invades White’s three-space extension with no hesitation—it’s a clear demand: respond, or collapse.”

Li You’s eyes sharpened.

18th column, 8th row: Attachment.

One after another, stones landed in rapid succession.

Tap, tap, tap!

“No swords, no blood—but each move carried razor-sharp intent.”

Black: 17-2, Atari.

White: 18-3, Connect.

Black: 18-11, Crawl.

White: 17-12, Extend.

“Both sides make life by crawling along the second line—White at the top right, Black on the right side. A brutal battle ends in mutual life.”

The young recorder stared in disbelief.

“Twenty moves—each one laced with danger. In a game like this, I’d already be in pieces... yet they fought to a draw.”

Now it was Yu Shao’s turn.

He gazed at the board, frowning.

“His responses were sharper than expected. Though I’ve gained slight initiative, the situation remains tight.”

He thought deeply.

“He’s no ordinary opponent. His judgment, timing, and understanding of the game are all top-notch. This isn’t some 8-dan who coasted by on seniority—he has a unique perspective.”

“Waiting for a mistake won’t work—because he’s waiting for mine too.”

His eyes shifted to the upper left. After a beat, his hand moved.

7th column, 3rd row: Hane.

Li You paused, startled.

“If I retreat now, I gain points, sure—but the exchange favors Black, who keeps sente.”

He frowned.

“Fine. Let’s strike back!”

7th column, 4th row: Atari.

But Yu Shao, now with the answer he wanted, immediately changed direction.

15th column, 9th row: Point.

Li You froze.

“Wait... He never meant to attack my upper left! That earlier move was just to test my response?”

Realization struck hard.

16th column, 11th row: Connect.

Yu Shao calmly placed his next stone:

14th column, 7th row: Small knight’s move.

The recorder was dumbstruck.

“That hane... just bait? That’s too slick!”

Meanwhile, Li You struck again:

19th column, 5th row: Tiger’s mouth.

“On the first line? That’s brilliant!”

The recorder’s breath caught.

“A threat to start a ko fight! Black lacks enough threats. If he defends, he loses sente. If not, White will kill the lower-left stones!”

Yu Shao responded:

8th column, 3rd row: Extend.

Everyone froze.

“He’s ignoring the ko?”

Li You’s eyes turned icy.

“Fine. If you want to fight, then let’s fight!”

19th column, 7th row: Push.

Black: 19-6, Capture.

The ko was on.

White:

16-16, Attach.

“A powerful ko threat. If Black responds, he loses initiative. If not, White will kill.”

But Yu Shao ignored the threat—

19-7, Connect.

The crowd gasped.

White:

17-17, Hane.

Black: 17-15, Extend.

White: 16-15, Push.

Black: 16-17, Cut.

“It’s a double threat—White can kill above or below!”

White: 15-17, Atari.

Black: 16-18, Stand.

White: 18-17, Stand.

Then came the killing blow:

16-14, Hane.

“He’s trying to live up top... but it’s too late!”

White responded with a textbook sequence:

15-18, Block!

But Yu Shao’s final move stunned everyone—

15-13, Diagonal Move.

Silence.

The entire room fell still.

“Brilliant.”

The recorder whispered aloud, forgetting to jot it down.

“It looks ordinary, but it cuts to the core. It guards against the upper cut, threatens the lower group, and even eyes the huge group above.”

In that moment—

Time itself seemed to stop.