The Great Go Player Tournant had concluded. Only now did the emotions of everyone burst forth like floodwaters through a broken dam, with countless forum posts springing up like mushrooms after rain!
"This year's Great Go Player title shall bear the na Su Yiming!"
"Su Yiming achieved three consecutive victories, defeating Fu Shunan to claim the Great Go Player title!"
"A new god ascends, inevitably stained with the blood of the old!"
"The brightest new star in the Go world - detailed analysis of the third match in the Great Go Player Tournant!"
Normally, after a title match concludes, discussions would focus on the two players and the gas played during the tournant. But this ti, amidst the discussions about Fu Shunan and Su Yiming online, many more were talking about Su Yiming and Yu Shao. Their conversation was being brought up again!
"Su Yiming vs Yu Shao? A showdown between two peerless prodigies may be coming!"
"Su Yiming hasn't beaten Yu Shao before, but after sweeping the title match while Yu Shao lost once, could Su Yiming win if they play again?"
Now that Su Yiming had won the Great Go Player title, if his previous words held true, there would still be a climactic match between him and Yu Shao!
The two were nearly the sa age, having beco professional players in the sa year and acquiring titles almost simultaneously. Each had defeated the currently dominant Jiang Changdong and Fu Shanan respectively - remarkable feats that would make all Go players bow in admiration.
Now both had obtained titles, standing among the world's super-elite players at the peak of their montum. If they were to play, it would undoubtedly be an earth-shattering battle!
Though it remained uncertain whether they would actually play - as they seed to have no scheduled matches - everyone clearly anticipated this ga. Many netizens were already fiercely debating who would win.
Thus, this uncertain match's popularity kept rising, even surpassing the conclusion of the Great Go Player Tournant!
"Ring ring!"
Around 8 PM, while Yu Shao was reviewing ga records, his phone suddenly rang. As he was about to place a stone, hearing the ringtone, he had to put it back. Glancing at the caller ID, he looked slightly surprised.
Soon answering, he asked: "Hello, Chairman Ma?"
"Yu Shao? Yes, it's . Are you busy?" Ma Zhengyu's cheerful voice ca through the phone.
"Not particularly. What's the matter, Chairman Ma?" Yu Shao inquired.
"Haha." Ma Zhengyu chuckled before asking: "After the National Champion match, so dia reported that if Su Yiming won a title, you two would play a match. Is that true?"
Hearing this question didn't surprise Yu Shao. He answered truthfully: "Yes, that's correct. Su Yiming and I agreed on it earlier."
"I see." Ma Zhengyu cleared his throat before continuing: "Do you know the internet has gone crazy? Everyone's anticipating your next match, with many already arguing about it."
"I haven't been online much - been reviewing ga records since before today's match started." Yu Shao explained, sensing sothing unusual in Ma Zhengyu's tone. "Chairman Ma, you can speak directly if there's sothing."
"Ha ha ha." Caught by Yu Shao's perception, Ma Zhengyu awkwardly laughed before revealing his purpose: "Your private match has nothing to do with the Go association. But the online buzz is enormous - not just dostically but internationally. Practically every Go player worldwide awaits your next ga."
"This attention... is terrifyingly comparable to world championships, beyond imagination." Ma Zhengyu paused before continuing: "So the association has received many sponsorship calls wanting to fund this match."
"My call serves two purposes: first, confirming if you've truly arranged this match. If so, the association wishes to officially organize it as the 'Twin Cup'."
Ma Zhengyu coughed unnaturally: "After all, if you just play privately, it would be a loss for Go enthusiasts and the ga itself."
"Naturally, the association will allocate part of the sponsorship as prize money, hoping to motivate even more brilliant play. If possible, I hope you'll agree."
Even Ma Zhengyu found this situation unbelievable. Normally, the association organizes tournants that players enter. But this ti, sponsors were chasing after two players' private match! After ergency etings, the Chinese Go Association found itself begging to make this unofficial ga an official tournant!
This was unprecedented in modern Go history - utterly extraordinary. Given the current online frenzy, even if Yu Shao and Su Yiming hadn't arranged anything, the association would likely have had to create a tournant!
Yu Shao paused slightly at this. Turning their match into an official tournant?
After consideration, he replied: "I have no objections. The prize money is secondary actually - I wanted to ask you sothing."
Ma Zhengyu sounded puzzled: "Ask sothing? What is it?"
"Can this match decide title ownership?" Yu Shao inquired.
The question clearly stunned Ma Zhengyu into prolonged silence before he finally exclaid incredulously: "What? Decide titles?!"
"Yes." Yu Shao explained: "Su Yiming told that after we both won titles, we'd play a match to determine title ownership."
"Impossible! Absolutely not!" Ma Zhengyu imdiately protested: "Titles can't be decided through private matches! They're determined through qualifiers leading to championship matches - not this casual approach!"
"No?" Yu Shao pondered: "Once won, titles belong to the holder. If willing, why not? I recall past examples of titles becoming vacant when holders retired."
"Guh." Ma Zhengyu was montarily speechless before weakly arguing: "That's retirent... completely different..." He trailed off, realizing he had no good counterargunt.
Indeed, retired title holders had left vacancies before. But he'd never imagined players would stake titles on a single match!
"Lacks authority!" Ma Zhengyu finally asserted: "If allowed, titles would descend into chaos! Titles represent every player's lifelong pursuit - their transfer must carry absolute authority and credibility through proper title matches! Not casually handing them over!"
Yu Shao countered: "Didn't the association propose making it an official tournant? Wouldn't that provide sufficient authority?"
This left Ma Zhengyu dumbfounded - having hoisted himself by his own petard. Indeed, while private matches couldn't decide titles, official tournants carried full credibility.
But allowing these matches to determine titles would make the event unprecedentedly significant!
"Wait..." Ma Zhengyu hesitated before saying: "This matter is too substantial. I must consult other association mbers first. I'll contact you later."
"Alright." Yu Shao agreed before hanging up and returning to reviewing ga records.
Around 9 PM, his phone rang again.
"Ring ring!"
Seeing the caller ID, Yu Shao quickly answered.
"Yu Shao, we've discussed it." Ma Zhengyu ca straight to the point: "Title transfers can't be this simple. Deciding ownership through one match is unacceptable."
"Still no?" Yu Shao wasn't particularly disappointed. He didn't really care whether this match could decide titles - he'd only asked because Su Yiming ntioned it.
"You understand Go's unpredictability. Single-match results lack credibility - anyone can be toppled by unexpected circumstances. Victors aren't necessarily the stronger players." Ma Zhengyu continued: "That's why titles and major tournants use multi-ga series."
"So—" Ma Zhengyu suddenly changed tack: "Two matches."
Yu Shao blinked: "Two matches?"
"Yes. After discussions, if titles are to be decided, one match won't suffice - at least two are needed." Ma Zhengyu took a deep breath: "If results are split, titles remain unchanged."
"Only by winning both matches can one claim the titles. I've already called Su Yiming - he agreed. What about you?"
Hearing this, Yu Shao gazed at the densely arranged stones on his board before slowly responding: "Very well. Then let it be two matches."
Relieved, Ma Zhengyu said: "It's settled then. The Twin Cup will comnce in seven days. The association will announce it tonight."
His tone then turned solemn: "Yu Shao, we all await your match! Tonight's announcent will surely shake the Go world."
"I believe these two matches will leave indelible mories for us all!"
...
Seoul, Korea.
In a small apartnt, a group of young n surrounded a Go board analyzing gas.
"Incredible. Not only did Yu Shao defeat Teacher Jiang Changdong for the National Champion title, but Su Yiming also beat Teacher Fu Shunan for the Great Go Player title - with three straight wins!" One couldn't hide his awe: "Those were Jiang Changdong and Fu Shunan!"
"Indeed. Though Yu Shao and Su Yiming are strong, I never expected they could defeat Teachers Jiang and Fu in championship matches." A lean-faced youth shook his head: "Both teachers have been in exceptional form recently, producing excellent world tournant gas."
"After Teacher Jiang defeated Kim Byeong-soo 9-dan and then National Champion Jeon An-woo, our association faced trendous pressure. Who could imagine both would lose their titles?"
Everyone stared at the board showing the Great Go Player Tournant's third match, unable to calm their shocked disbelief.
Championship matches differed completely from regular gas - they tested players' comprehensive abilities. While luck might influence single gas, championship series left no room for chance.
As the saying went: Beating An Hongshi once makes you a top player;
defeating him in a championship series makes you super-elite. While An Hongshi lost regular gas occasionally, championship losses made headlines!
"Sumr's here - world tournants approach. This year will be exceptionally challenging." Soone suddenly remarked.
The mood turned heavy under mounting pressure. Jiang Changdong and Fu Shunan had dominated world Go for years. Yet these two titans had both lost dostic title matches to teenagers under twenty - utterly shocking.
"Speaking of which, I heard Su Yiming and Yu Shao have another match coming." A tall, thin youth broke the somber atmosphere: "Wonder if it's true."
"I saw that report too. If real, it'll be worth watching. But they don't seem to have any scheduled matches - perhaps a private ga?" The lean youth nodded, taking out his phone: "Let check."
Suddenly, the lean youth froze, eyes gradually widening as he stared at his screen.
"What's wrong?" Others noticed his expression.
"In seven days... the Twin Cup." The lean youth stared incredulously at his phone: "Su Yiming versus Yu Shao."
"They'll use two matches to decide title ownership between them!"
These words seed to freeze everyone in place before their eyes similarly widened uncontrollably!
Su Yiming and Yu Shao had just defeated Jiang Changdong and Fu Shunan to claim titles. Now they would stake those very titles against each other?!
What kind of gas would they produce?
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