I'm Really a Superstar

Everyone knew that Zhang Ye was smart!

Everyone knew that Zhang Ye was capable!

But in Go? No one had ever seen him play the game before!

That was why before this, no one had any idea at all about how good Zhang Ye was at Go. They only knew that he could probably play, but definitely did not know how well he could play. Thus, everyone had a pessimistic view of things after the press conference the other day. They didn't think that there was a chance of winning at all. But now, they knew. Through the words of the host and the commentator, they realized that Zhang Ye's skills were definitely able to match the artificial intelligence program for this war between humans and machines. Further, he had even gained a slight advantage at the start of the match!

His eldest younger sister exclaimed, "Our brother is so amazing!"

Zhang Ye's mother said with wide eyes, "Didn't Little Ye only attend a few Go classes during elementary and middle school?"

His father smacked his thigh in realization. "So this was why China Qiyuan got him to represent them!"

Elsewhere.

Fan Wenli was dumbfounded. "Director Zhang really can play!"

Chen Guang said, "Damn, and I was wondering why he dared to accept the challenge!"

At the Yao household.

Yao Jiancai said in a speechless manner, "That Little Zhang, how does he know everything!"

Yao Mi exclaimed excitedly, "Teacher Zhang, you can do it! Defeat that machine! Defeat it!"

This final battle between humans and machines was also broadcast live on the Online Go Server. The platform's commentator was shocked as he shouted, "Look, PeterGo is getting pressed back! It's been thinking for 20 minutes without making a move! This is incredible! Face-smacking Zhang is so incredible! He has once again shown his amazing talents to all of Asia. He has given humanity a glimmer of hope in beating an AI! Those moves on the Go board are indeed at the level of a professional! With this, Face-smacking Zhang has announced to the world that he truly lives up to the title of the smartest person to appear in a century! He is definitely the person with the highest IQ in the world! No one else even comes close!"

As a mathematician, his Go skill would undoubtedly not be bad. But at most, it should only be not bad. For him to be able to play the game to the highest level was practically impossible. This is because Go requires a large amount of time and practice to accumulate skill and experience, and requires a person to fully invest their heart and mind into the game. So what was happening right now was something that was not explainable by Zhang Ye's status as a renowned mathematician!

There was only one way to explain it:

Zhang Ye was just too smart!

It would have to be that innate talent and intelligence of his!

This match was definitely worthy of being known as the battle between humans and machines. The netizens who had doubted whether Zhang Ye could really represent humanity and play in this match were all keeping quiet now. He was absolutely qualified to do so!

…

In the room.

More than 20 minutes had passed.

Finally, Peter stirred and made a move in response!

Seeing this move it made, Zhang Ye frowned. For the first time today, he was set deep into thought.

Peter's reply was not actually very strong. It could even be said that it was just a normal move. But on second glance, one would discover that the position its black stone was played on was actually a very critical one and extremely difficult to deal with. If Zhang Ye were to apply pressure and go up against it, he might be opening himself up to getting exploited, and the corner of the board would then be put into danger. But if he were to leave it alone, he would definitely start getting restricted from his next move onwards. For now, the only better option available to Zhang Ye was a position on the first line from the right. It would be more secure to play his move here. But just as he was about to raise his hand to place the stone, he suddenly hesitated and felt that something was wrong.

A trap?

Yes, it was a trap!

After thinking four moves ahead, he could deduce it immediately!

What a good move!

This move has really left me in a dilemma!

Zhang Ye once again turned silent as he started thinking about it. This was truly to be expected from an artificial intelligence. He had witnessed the true strength of his opponent now. Moreover, as the game progressed and the situation on the board got even more complicated, the AI's ability to calculate its options to a greater degree of precision would give it a greater advantage. In the current situation, Zhang Ye had entered into attrition warfare against PeterGo!

In the commentary room.

Yu Yingyi asked curiously, "Has Professor Zhang encountered a difficult choice for his next move?"

Chen Ying 7-dan was also very puzzled. "If it were me, I would definitely play my move at right-5."

"Yeah, there's a possible point over there." Even a hobbyist like Yu Yingyi could see it.

Chen Ying 7-dan said, "So I don't know what Professor Zhang is considering….Eh, wait a second. There seems to be something more to that move by Peter!"

In the spectator room.

Many of the professional players were pointing at the screen and discussing. A lot of them could not understand why Zhang Ye had fallen silent, thinking that this should not be happening.

Only Wu Changhe spoke up. "Right-5 is not an option."

Xiang Rong 9-dan looked at the board and nodded in agreement.

"Why?"

"Even if right-5 is not a good position, he could play at right-6, right?"

Wu Changhe shook his head. "It's a trap." He picked up a laser pointer and pointed it at the screen to explain to everyone. "If he plays right-5, the machine will make its move over here. Then, that Zhang kid will only be able to play a horizontal stretch. When the machine makes its move here, he would have to follow up again. Once the machine extends here, he'll have no options left. He'll have lost the initiative at the territory in the corner immediately. So this is a trap."

A lot of people suddenly realized this as well!

Hu Liang 7-dan said in worry, "What if Professor Zhang falls for it?"

"Yeah," a professional 5th dan female player said anxiously, "what if he falls for it?"

Xiang Rong answered, "He wouldn't fall for it!"

Wu Changhe nodded in agreement to Xiang Rong's statement. Although he didn't think much of Zhang Ye and disliked him very much, he still recognized Zhang Ye's skill as a professional Go player. Otherwise, why would China Qiyuan approach an outsider like him and specially go to his house to persuade him rather than sending a professional player from within their own ranks! It was precisely because the people here could not even recognize this trap that they were sitting in this room while Zhang Ye was the one who represented them and played in the challenge match! Zhang Ye's Go skill was much better than theirs!

Suddenly, Zhang Ye played his stone on the board!

He made a " cut 1 " that no one had expected was coming!

Wu Changhe nodded approvingly.

Xiang Rong 9-dan sighed. "He didn't fall for it, but he has lost his advantage."

Wu Changhe said, "There's nothing he can do. His opponent is being too difficult. This response is already very good."

Zhang Ye was playing very conservatively. Actually, he had several strategies that he could use, but he chose to go ahead with the safest style of playing, even though it would lead to him losing an advantage of two or three points. The main issue here was that his opponent had played a really clever move, and Zhang Ye did not have that good of a way to deal with it.

The machine was indeed very strong!

So strong that Zhang Ye could feel himself getting mentally drained!

Chen Ying frowned. "Why did he play that move? He could have…Oh, I know! The point at right-5 was a trap. It might have looked like a cake, but it must never be eaten!" She immediately brought up a virtual screen to demonstrate to the audience for their understanding. "Over here, the stones will lose their initiative if this happens. So Professor Zhang has no other options. Oh, Peter has made another move again. This move looks really familiar. It's a 'push through' at this position. This is a move that Xiang Rong 9-dan uses commonly and is his playstyle. With those two moves, Professor Zhang will find it difficult to continue from here. Peter has caught back up on its disadvantage in points!"

The television viewers and Go players watching experienced a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Things had been turned around too quickly!

But then again, that was exactly where the charm of Go lay!

It was all quiet in the game room. Even the international referees were nervously watching the game.

Zhang Ye's eyes narrowed as he played a " stretch 2 "!

Peter made a " reach around 3 " move!

Zhang Ye played a "stand"!

Peter went for a "horizontal stretch"!

In the following moves, neither party could get an advantage over each other!

A stone of Zhang Ye's was captured!

Very quickly, Peter also had a stone captured by Zhang Ye!

The situation on the board was stuck in a stalemate as both players played really wonderful moves. The exchange made many of the professional Go players and amateurs watch in shock and surprise!

Capturing Race - https://senseis.xmp.net/?CapturingRace

1. 断/Duàn/Kiri - A cut is a move preventing a connection, or an existing situation where stones are prevented from connecting. Usually the term applies to stones which are in direct contact. | https://senseis.xmp.net/?Cut

2. 长/Cháng/nobi - A play directly next to another stone of the same color to create a line of at least two stones. | https://senseis.xmp.net/?Stretch | Different from horizontal stretch/narabi (which is a specific type of stretch)

3. 扳/Bān/hane - A move which "reaches around" one or more of the opponent's stones. | https://senseis.xmp.net/?Hane