The Final's Unexpected Twist
The studio was in a state of panic.
Commentators Moon Ga-yeon of BadukTV and Song Tae-gyu 9-dan couldn't hide their shock.
“Senior Song, has this ever happened?”
Moon Ga-yeon asked cautiously.
“I’ve been a pro for 24 years this year… This is the first time it’s happened in a world championship final.”
“Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan, it won’t be a bad thing, I hope.”
Both had sad expressions.
Most fellow professionals, Go fans, and I were the same.
“What on earth happened?”
In qualifiers, arriving just before the game was not uncommon.
But in the finals, it was different.
Usually, one arrives two hours early, at the latest one hour before.
To adapt to the venue atmosphere, handle pre-match interviews, and prepare for any unforeseen situations.
But not having arrived yet suggested it was more than just ordinary circumstances.
Then.
The caster sitting at the podium received a message from someone.
“Ah… This is the news that just came in.”
She took a deep breath, then carefully conveyed the news.
“Song Tae-gyu 9-dan had a traffic accident on his way here. A fracture was confirmed, but fortunately, there was no injury to his life.”
“That’s a great relief. Baduk is important, but human life comes first.”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan let out a sigh of relief.
Moon Ga-yeon added cautiously.
“Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan has shown his determination to play and is on his way to the venue… but it seems difficult, right?”
“Yes. According to regulations, if he doesn't sit down within the designated time, he will be immediately disqualified. There have been cases in the past where players were disqualified due to time errors or delays, though rare.”
Song Tae-gyu’s expression darkened.
And then a short silence followed.
The host’s final decision was conveyed by Moon Ga-yeon with a regretful voice.
“Unfortunately… Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan has been disqualified for being late. Lu Quanyi 9-dan will advance to the finals by default.”
The screen switched to the studio, showing Lu Quanyi 9-dan.
His expressionless face looking down at the Go board.
I stored that image in my mind for a long time.
“We will meet you tomorrow for the first game of the Ciel Bank Cup finals between Lu Quanyi 9-dan and Kim In-ha. Commentator Moon Ga-yeon, commentator Song Tae-gyu 9-dan. Thank you.”
The broadcast ended and ads flowed in.
I leaned back in my chair and quietly took a deep breath.
“I really wanted to play against him.”
The world’s best flawless player.
The overwhelmingly #1 in the world Go ranking.
I wanted to compete against him.
Especially on a stage where we fight for the world championship title.
But ending so abruptly left an indescribable regret.
“…There will be another chance.”
Now my opponent is Lu Quanyi 9-dan.
The #2 in the world Go ranking.
A top-tier player recently showing good form, playing Go closest to AI.
There is no lack in the opponent.
No, considering when I turned pro, it was rather overqualified.
But.
“Why does it feel so uneasy.”
I organized my thoughts and turned my gaze to the laptop I brought from home.
For analyzing the game against DeepStone.
In my eyes, Jang Yu-na 2-dan’s streaming recommendation banner appeared.
I briefly disconnected to refresh for the stream.
At that moment.
Jang Yu-na 2-dan, unable to hide her excitement, poured out her words.
“Everyone, no matter who your opponent is, don’t worry at all. Who is Mumyeong? I will never lose until the end. Imagine losing to Lu Quanyi 9-dan? Everyone who is losing right now, get out. If you don’t, you’ll be kicked out? Hey, you’ll be expelled?”
“…Yu-na, please calm down.”
A laugh escaped me because it was so unbelievable.
I knew she was biased in her commentary, but I didn’t expect this level.
Or rather, Jang Yu-na 2-dan’s unrestrained remarks poured out.
“Lu Quanyi 9-dan skipped 13 positions in the Chinese tournament a while ago. 13 times! The studio has broadcast blocking devices and entry detection, but… what about the bathroom? This, do I suspect only me?”
“…Cheating.”
I muttered softly.
The so-called AI conniving.
A method where players leave their seat at a critical moment and check the moves with external equipment.
Already, suspicions around Lu Quanyi 9-dan had never stopped in domestic Go broadcasts and communities.
Every time he returned, he showed 100% Blue Spot accuracy.
Enough that even Park 9-dan had said he suspected him.
Of course, there was no evidence.
Ultimately, it was just suspicion.
But.
“Preparation is necessary.”
At that moment, the chat window shook again.
“Huh? Mumyeong is online?”
“Really? It’s Mumyeong!”
“Oh oh oh. When was the last time this happened.”
Eager cheers filled the chat.
Jang Yu-na 2-dan, checking the chat, shouted loudly.
“Really? Where is Mumyeong! If you see, please reply in chat. How long has it been. We haven’t forgotten, right? We missed you!”
I let out a small laugh.
How could I forget.
Mumyeong was… part of me, Kim In-ha.
I placed my hand on the keyboard and typed.
Mumyeong: Thank you for the support. I won’t lose until the end.
After leaving that message, I pressed ‘leave’.
The quiet room.
It was as if all sound had stopped.
The chat I left just now was not just a simple word.
It was my own vow, my will toward victory.
I slowly exhaled and lifted the corners of my mouth.
“…Cheating? If you can do it, go ahead.”
Yes.
If you can, then do it.
I was already preparing for the worst.
* * *
The day had dawned.
Sunlight gently spread across the window of the room.
The hotel bed felt more comfortable than my familiar bed at home.
The feeling that my body had adapted.
I ate breakfast lightly and returned to the hotel room to shower.
When I checked my smartphone, there were many support messages.
Mom, Dad, Yeon-hui, Ho-jun, Hyun-do, etc.
I smiled softly.
Each one, all of them, carried a mix of worry and expectation.
I stood in front of the mirror wearing the shirt and pants I always wore.
A calm tension.
A pleasant tremor.
I organized my body and mind and headed to the first-floor lobby.
When I got off the elevator, the waiting journalists rushed over.
Following the host’s guidance, I stood at the photo wall.
Flash after flash went off without pause.
The host, as if waiting, approached and held out the microphone.
“Kim In-ha, how is your condition today?”
“I don’t think there will be another day as good as today.”
I answered with composure.
“You are always confident. How do you feel about entering the finals of the world championship Ciel Bank Cup as an amateur?”
“I’m happy to have climbed up quickly despite being late.”
I felt a sense of pride.
I started later than others, but reached this position faster than others.
At first, I relied only on talent, but now I was completing my Go through evolution.
The journalists’ questions continued.
“Lu Quanyi 9-dan’s AI accuracy is at the world’s highest level. Do you have any countermeasures?”
I smiled meaningfully.
“Yes, I do.”
The journalist asked with a mix of expectation.
“Could you tell me the specific strategy?”
“You’ll see when you look.”
A short but confident tone.
No more explanation was needed, so I answered with a smile.
This time, a Chinese journalist took the microphone.
“Some say Kim In-ha’s bracket luck is good and he reached the finals. What do you think about that?”
I quietly looked at the journalist.
No translation was needed.
His Chinese came through clearly to my ears.
“Interesting.”
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
In fact, Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan, Lu Quanyi 9-dan, and many in the top 10 world ranking were on the opposite side.
The only one who was #8 was Kim Eun-woo 9-dan, but he was eliminated by #21 Wu Xiaoyu 9-dan.
So.
It didn’t feel unpleasant.
Rather, it was calm.
After all, it was the truth.
But.
I answered while hiding a thorn in my gentleness.
“Is that a remark belittling Chinese players who had good brackets but couldn’t seize the opportunity?”
After the translation, the Chinese journalist’s face flushed red.
His momentum was cut by my counter.
I added the last words.
“Luck is also skill.”
A strange sense of excitement appeared on the domestic journalists’ faces, and suppressed anger on the Chinese journalists’ faces.
Some raised their hands.
They were desperate to grab at any straw and create a fuss.
I quietly smiled, handed the microphone back to the host, and took the gesture of not taking any more questions.
The flustered host hurriedly wrapped up the situation.
“Thank you, Kim In-ha. We will see you at the finals!”
I gave a short greeting and left the photo wall.
Leaving the journalists’ gazes behind, I slowly headed to the venue.
“Will you please submit your personal electronic devices for inspection?”
I spread my arms and cooperated with the security check.
After confirming there was no abnormality, entry was permitted.
In the studio.
The stage in front, more splendid and ornate than the semifinals, came into view.
The Go board neatly arranged.
The seats for black and white prepared in front.
I quietly sat on the designated chair.
I exhaled and raised my concentration…
A man in a black suit appeared in the studio.
Lu Quanyi 9-dan.
For the first time since the draw, he appeared with an expressionless face, passed me by, and sat on the opposite side.
“…”
Our eyes met, but there was no greeting.
Only the quiet tension filled the air.
“…He said he never shows emotions.”
Regardless of win or loss, he always maintained a poker face, I heard.
That’s why he plays Go that suits AI well.
Anyway.
“I will win.”
No matter who the opponent is, I have no intention of losing.
The camera lights came on, and the host sent the signal to start the game.
Clack.
The stones were covered.
White was Lu Quanyi 9-dan.
Black was me.
We bowed our heads in greeting.
Soon, the game began.
Clack.
I placed the first stone on the board.
5-3 point.
He responded with 3-3.
“Again 5-3.”
I played 4-3 on the left upper.
White played 4-3 on the left lower.
5-3 at three places and 3-3 at one.
Clack.
I played two spaces higher on the left upper 5-3 to defend.
A balanced shape.
Allowing the opponent to take the lead but securing a wide framework.
White also moved.
A pincer.
Responded with a knight’s move.
Pinning my left upper 5-3 with two spaces.
And then the following three-space invasion.
Building a framework toward the top side, inducing a jump in my right side.
Clack.
I responded there.
White defended the right lower 5-3 high to balance the efficiency.
Clack.
I widened to the left side.
Securing a framework with the two-space high extension on the left upper and spreading both wings.
“Come in.”
I induced an invasion.
And.
Clack.
Lu Quanyi 9-dan boldly jumped into my framework.
I waited and covered it for the offensive.
Then white attached to the 5-3 and asked for a response.
A shake.
The intention to struggle within my framework.
“…Well played. So that no gap is felt.”
Although early game, every move was precise as if placed by Blue Spot.
World-class skill.
No room for doubt.
“I will take the initiative.”
Aggressive fighting from the beginning.
The picture I had in mind.
From the joseki choice to the detailed changes, the flow prepared by consulting with Park 9-dan of the research group.
So I advanced without hesitation, more aggressively.
White securing territory with the second line, black stacking thick outer.
Black and white stones intertwined creating a ko, naturally transitioning to the middle game.
Exactly the flow I intended.
But.
“…!”
Lu Quanyi 9-dan quietly stood up.
“Is he leaving his seat now?”
An unexpected timing.
Had he judged that the next move was so important?
“…Stay calm.”
I briefly exhaled.
Calmly looked at the board.
Fortunately, this flow was still within my preparation.
White’s next move was a position that was hard to deviate greatly from here.
No reason to hesitate.
Clack.
I placed the stone on the move I had read in advance.
And immediately pushed back the chair and stood up.
According to tournament regulations, I couldn’t leave my seat on my turn.
But now the turn had passed.
“…I won’t let you go alone.”
Preparation for possible cheating.
I watched the back of Lu Quanyi 9-dan leaving the studio.
And.
Slowly.
Quietly.
…Followed behind him.