Chapter 446: Chapter 446

On the other side, the game between Higashiyama Kaoru and Kimura Go was gradually transitioning from the opening phase to the middle game, and this master-disciple match had attracted the attention of most people in the venue.

Nearby, an amateur player around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old with dyed blond hair was intently watching the game between Higashiyama Kaoru and Kimura Go.

As an amateur player invited to participate in the Phoenix Cup World Championship, he was clearly no ordinary amateur either. Most professional players present were probably familiar with his name.

Han Xiu, Amateur 7-dan.

"Although the opening has just ended... it feels like Higashiyama Kaoru is giving it his all just to keep up with Master Kimura Go. Meanwhile, Master Kimura Go still seems completely at ease."

He shifted his gaze from the board, looked up at Higashiyama Kaoru, then at Kimura Go, thinking silently: "Master Kimura Go is still so strong..."

Higashiyama Kaoru looked at the board before him with a slightly heavy expression, falling into deep thought.

Sitting opposite Higashiyama Kaoru, Kimura Go showed no expression on his face, appearing somewhat stern as he quietly waited for Higashiyama to place his stone.

Finally, after a moment, Higashiyama Kaoru picked up another stone and quickly placed it!

Column 8, Row 8, jump!

Seeing Higashiyama's move, many people around showed unusual expressions in their eyes. After all, in this board situation, Higashiyama's jump wasn't a common strategy.

However, Kimura Go didn't seem surprised at all, barely even thinking before picking up another stone and quickly placing it on the board!

The two sides continuously alternated placing stones, and the surrounding crowd watched with increasing seriousness. Soon, another twenty-plus moves were made with black and white, and everyone stared intently at the board, unknowingly showing looks of astonishment on their faces!

Higashiyama's jump was indeed an unconventional and tricky move. If it were anyone else, they might have been caught off guard by this unexpected assault.

But Kimura Go seemed to see completely through Higashiyama, playing with such thickness and solidity. This approach could be said to hit right at the weak point of Higashiyama's tricky, aggressive style, with pinpoint accuracy!

Or rather, it was watertight!

"So strong! Even facing his own student, Master Kimura Go shows no mercy on the battlefield!"

Someone couldn't help but whisper: "Every move Higashiyama makes seems to be within Master Kimura Go's expectations, completely seen through and perfectly countered."

"This game probably has no suspense."

The person beside them replied with some emotion, speaking softly: "Facing the student he raised from childhood, Master Kimura Go knows Higashiyama inside out. For Higashiyama, facing Master Kimura Go might be even harder than facing Master An Hongshi."

"Indeed, what a pity that he ran into him in the first round."

Someone shook their head, their tone carrying some regret.

The single-elimination format was the cruelest of all tournament systems because players only had one chance - lose and you're immediately eliminated.

Although with Higashiyama's level, he shouldn't have fallen at the starting line, unfortunately his luck was just too bad, just happening to meet Kimura Go, an opponent who was not only strong but also knew him inside out! ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveIＦire.net

Time passed minute by minute. As stones kept being placed and the game situation increasingly favored Kimura Go, as if every move Higashiyama made had been calculated by Kimura Go, many people gradually lost interest in this game.

Some people turned to look at other tables, picked a player they were following, turned around and left to watch other games.

However, some didn't leave, still standing in place, preparing to watch this game until the end.

Click, click, click...

In the competition venue, the sound of stones being placed continuously echoed in everyone's ears.

Not long after, Kimura Go picked up another stone and gently placed it!

Column 7, Row 12, extension!

"With this move, unless Higashiyama can escape, even if he uses a 'shoulder hit', he'll only end up being attacked by Master Kimura Go!"

Nearby, seeing this move, Han Xiu's eyes changed slightly. The unparalleled pressure brought by this stone's placement made it somewhat difficult for him to breathe.

"Master Kimura Go's shape is just too thick, completely impregnable. The sideline has already formed solid territory that can't be reduced or invaded."

"The suppressing power of this move is too strong."

Han Xiu looked at the game situation, assessed the position, and as expected received a perfect answer sheet on how to deal with Higashiyama Kaoru!

The reason he hadn't left was that he wanted to know how Kimura Go, the player most familiar with Higashiyama Kaoru, would actually handle facing him.

And the answer Kimura Go ultimately provided was: immovable as a mountain, forming shapes like towering peaks and ridges, building an insurmountable wall with astonishing thickness, gradually overwhelming Higashiyama Kaoru completely!

However, although he knew this answer, Han Xiu fell into deep silence.

Because although the answer was right before his eyes, not everyone could copy it. Higashiyama's game was fierce enough but lacked refinement.

But these extremely fierce moves could only be handled unmoved by Kimura Go, who calmly resolved each offensive one by one!

If it were most other players, they would probably fall into disadvantage at the first exchange, then be beaten all the way, finally drowned in the tidal wave of offense, their defeat cascading like a collapsing mountain.

The fundamental reason was simply... Kimura Go was too strong.

And now, even though his own position was precarious and all his offensives had been resolved one by one, Higashiyama Kaoru still looked extremely calmly at the board before him.

He wasn't surprised by falling into such a situation. Or rather, when facing Kimura Go, facing this teacher who had taught him Go since childhood, he had become accustomed to such board positions.

On the board, Kimura Go's black stones were impregnable, almost impossible to shake. Not only was the influence astonishing, but more importantly, it was extremely thick and solid. Meanwhile, after a series of fierce attacks, the weaknesses in white's thin shape had been exposed!

For white to win, they must shatter black's influence. But the problem was, white couldn't even break black's thick position. Because of the overly deep previous attacks, white had become four groups of isolated stones - even rescuing them was problematic!

Although with Higashiyama's level, he shouldn't have fallen at the starting line, unfortunately his luck was just too bad, as he happened to meet Kimura Go, an opponent who was not only strong but also knew him inside out!

"All I can say is... it has to be Master Kimura Go, consistently strong as always. I wonder if Master Kimura Go will face Master An Hongshi this year - that should be quite worth watching."

Seeing this scene, Han Xiu thought silently to himself.

Soon, five minutes had passed.

"Let's go look at other tables."

Han Xiu looked at his wristwatch, turned to look at Yu Shao's table, pondered for a moment, and decided not to continue watching. He turned around preparing to leave.

But just as Han Xiu was about to turn away, suddenly there was a "click" sound. Higashiyama Kaoru reached into the go bowl, a faint sharpness in his eyes, picked up a stone, and quickly placed it on the board!

Column 15, Row 13, large knight's move!

The crisp sound of the stone placement seemed to echo throughout the entire competition hall!

Although Han Xiu had turned away, his gaze still lingered on the board. Just as he was about to look away, seeing this move, Han Xiu suddenly seemed frozen in place!

The next moment, an expression of disbelief appeared on Han Xiu's face as he stared incredulously at the board!

"Large knight's move?"

Around them, others were also dumbfounded as they looked at the board, as if seeing something unbelievable.

Seeing this move, Kimura Go sitting opposite Higashiyama Kaoru also froze momentarily. Coming back to his senses, his eyes couldn't help but change. After thinking for a moment, he grabbed a stone and quickly placed it!

The sound of stones being placed began to echo continuously again.

And the people around seemed to have been hit by a immobilization spell, motionless, staring intently at the game, not even daring to breathe heavily!

Time kept passing, and unknowingly fine beads of sweat had appeared on Higashiyama Kaoru's forehead. His eyes were fierce, flashing with a chilling coldness!

Meanwhile, Kimura Go's expression had somehow become somewhat unpleasant. His face was stern, teeth slightly clenched, as he continuously reached into the go bowl and frequently placed stones.

At this moment, the two completely didn't resemble teacher and student. On the contrary, they more resembled two sworn enemies who would stop at nothing to make sure the other never recovered, doomed forever!

"How is this possible..."

Han Xiu was completely stunned, and not just him - everyone around was the same. Even on Kimura Go's face, there was actually a look of disbelief!

Stones kept being placed!

"Black has already formed thick influence, while white has no initiative and still has four groups of isolated stones to handle. Normally, no matter what, the next phase should be a one-sided battle!"

A trickle of cold sweat slowly ran down Han Xiu's face as he looked at the board before him with utmost shock.

"He's actually using these four groups of isolated stones in an unbelievable way, forcibly surrounding white, actually trying to launch a strong attack against white with this!!!"

Isolated stones, as the name suggests, are weak stones isolated without support that need rescuing. In extremely rare cases, isolated stones can be borrowed for attack, but no one would ever think of using four groups of isolated stones to siege the opponent's thick influence!

Black and white stones alternated placements. Facing Higashiyama's astonishing sudden violent assault, Kimura Go didn't wait passively either, directly using his thick influence to engage in fierce combat with black!

The counterattack from white's thick influence was an extremely severe punishment for black, but black erupted with astonishing momentum, not only not retreating but still insisting on forcefully surrounding and killing white!

On the board, black and white were tightly entangled, the situation becoming increasingly complex.

"Facing black's jump, white chooses to extend. Black cutting here is a tesuji, then white..."

Han Xiu looked at the board, and after seeing Higashiyama place another stone, he was slightly stunned: "White... bends."

Both sides were placing stones quickly. Gradually, the fine sweat on Han Xiu's face increased, and his heart grew more and more shocked.

"It's already become five large dragons fighting!"

Someone couldn't help but swallow hard and murmur.

On the board, stones kept being placed, and everyone's expressions grew increasingly incredulous.

They all stared intently at this game, unconsciously holding their breath, not even blinking as they watched the astonishing killing intent erupting between black and white on the crisscrossing board!

Time kept passing as stones were placed.

On the board, white placed another stone.

The moment this stone was placed, someone couldn't help but swallow hard with difficulty!

On the board, the entanglement between black and white was extremely complex, the situation already dazzling to the eyes. A full eight large dragons were dancing wildly on the board!

Everyone was completely stunned!

"Eight dragons dancing together, four groups of isolated stones forcibly sieging Kimura Go's thick influence!"

Beneath this unbelievable flash of inspiration was an even more terrifying fierceness that made people's hearts grow cold!

"White's counterattack momentum—"

"Is already decided!"

Han Xiu couldn't help but look toward Higashiyama Kaoru. Coincidentally at this moment Higashiyama also raised his head. Their gazes met in the air for an instant. Seeing the killing intent in Higashiyama's eyes, Han Xiu instinctively averted his gaze!

Dong He stared blankly at the board, his entire being seeming to have lost his soul.

Black's previous atari move was a tesuji. If he poked now, black wouldn't capture, directly creating a ladder situation... The situation was completely different from before he made the atari move...

At this point, black simply couldn't continue.

Not even hoping to reach the endgame was wishful thinking, because no matter how he played, black's upcoming dragon slaying was already miai - the result of continuing would just be white's complete annihilation!

After a long time, Dong He reluctantly slowly lowered his head, fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deeply into his palms.

After another moment, Dong He finally managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth:

Hearing this, the surroundings fell into complete silence.

After a long time, someone finally murmured: "My heavens..."

Everyone had been deeply shocked by this game.

Although Dong He wasn't considered a top player, he was still an experienced veteran 9-dan who was active in major international competitions and occasionally had eye-catching brilliant performances.

For this game, some had thought Dong He might win, though more felt Yu Shao would win. But even those who thought Yu Shao would win never imagined the game would end with this result.

This game ended far too quickly, completely beyond their expectations. They even felt like it had just begun when suddenly it was over.

They had never imagined that in this game, after just one exchange between the two sides - this sole battle initiated by white - it would end with white's large dragon being captured by black, violently coming to an immediate conclusion!

This was the fastest ended game in the first round of this competition.

Seeing Dong He resign, Yu Shao's expression remained calm as he slightly bowed toward Dong He and said: "Thank you for the game."

After a moment, Dong He responded in a weak voice: "...Thank you for the game."

After exchanging bows, Yu Shao collected his stones, then stood up. He scanned the competition venue, found where Su Yiming was, and walked toward Su Yiming's table.

Soon, Yu Shao arrived behind Su Yiming and turned his gaze to the game.