The Match (승부)

BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF GO PLAYERS CHO HOON-HYUN AND LEE CHANG-HO

ALL CHARACTERS AND EVENTS MAY DIFFER FROM REAL-LIFE COUNTERPARTS

THE YING SHIBEI WORLD GO CHAMPIONSHIP WAS HELD IN THE 1980S

A SINGLE SPOT WAS GIVEN TO KOREA, AN UNDERDOG COUNTRY

CHO HOON-HYUN 9-DAN ADVANCED TO THE FINAL AGAINST EXPECTATIONS

HIS OPPONENT, KNOWN AS "THE BLACK BEAR OF THE CONTINENT,"

WON THE CHINA-JAPAN SUPER LEAGUE 11 CONSECUTIVE TIMES

AND WAS THE WORLD'S BEST PLAYER

The final of the first Ying Shibei World Professional Go Championship

will be held in Singapore today.

Korea's Cho Hoon-hyun 9-dan and China's Nie Weiping 9-dan,

tying at two wins, two losses each,

will fight in this match of the century

to become king of the international Go scene.

White has won in all the previous matches played,

so there is great interest already in who will play white in the final match.

Champion Cho!

Are you going to attack fiercely?

Mr. Cho!

What have you done to prepare for the match today?

Sir!

- Champion Cho! - Nie Weiping!

How do you feel now? Piss off to Korea!

Nie Weiping! Nie Weiping!

China will definitely win! China will definitely win!

MATCH VENUE STAMFORD HOTEL, SINGAPORE

Nie Weiping 9-dan, white.

Cho Hoon-hyun 9-dan, black.

Let the match begin.

THE FIRST YING SHIBEI WORLD GO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL, LAST ROUND

CHO HOON-HYUN 9-DAN VS NIE WEIPING 9-DAN

THE MATCH

Cho Hoon-hyun 9-dan has ascended to the top of the international Go scene.

Cho 9-dan defeated Japan,

who has boasted to be the center of the Go scene,

and also defeated China, where Go first originated.

His victory excitingly proves

that the quality of Korea's Go is at the top of the world.

Right now, well, perhaps I'd not even lose to the supreme god of Go himself.

Cho Hoon-hyun 9-dan, the Go world champion,

returned to Korea today,

participating in a car parade from Gimpo Airport

to the Korea Baduk Association in Jongno 2-ga.

The government awarded Cho 9-dan

with the Eungwan Order of Culture Merit

for improving the prestige of Korea's Go throughout the world.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

ONE-ON-MANY TEACHING MATCH WITH PROFESSIONAL GO PLAYERS

3-DAN CHEON SEUNG-PIL

The boy's amazing.

He solved the life-and-death problem.

- Huh? - Huh? Right?

- Earlier... - Hey, hey. Hey, go.

- Okay. - Hmm?

- Let's go. - Uh-huh.

Hey, you're in a tight spot, Pro Cheon.

He's giving you a hard time, huh?

This kid's a Go prodigy in Jeonju.

He's been playing for less than half a year.

Right, I heard there's no one who could beat him in Jeonju...

- No, in Jeollanam-do, right? Ha! - He really must be a prodigy.

I think it's over. Wanna stop?

Just wait.

It's not over yet.

What?

It's over. It's obvious.

Mind if I step in for him?

This is it!

Oh, it's an atari.

OPPONENT'S STONE CAPTURED ON THE NEXT MOVE

Looks like he's been hit really hard.

Should we call it a tie and stop here?

Champion Cho is Korea's best. I can't believe it!

Wow, he is amazing.

He's champion for a reason.

It's much harder to win when you're given the advantage.

You stepped in when I was going easy.

Hey, wait! Play another one!

Oh, what are you doing?

Hey, you little brat, don't be rude.

Go play over there.

Ugh! You go with the amateurs.

Come on, one more round.

I'll beat you if we play another round.

What's your name, boy?

Chang-ho.

Lee Chang-ho.

Come here. Sit back down.

Chang-ho. Good at life-and-death problems.

A PLAYER CAN SAVE THEIR STONES

OR KILL THE OPPONENT'S STONES

Find the black's lifeline.

A PATH WHERE STONES CAN ESCAPE ALIVE

This problem, solve it and we'll play again.

Are you sure about that?

You have to keep your word.

You know, you're not allowed to take it back.

He's a Lee from Gyeongju too.

A family elder kept talking about him,

so I told him to bring the boy by.

Well, he's good for a kid.

That little kid has quite a temper, doesn't he?

- So he's your nephew? - Nah, my first time seeing him too.

The family tree's all messed up so, he's actually a generation above.

Looks like I'll be taking care of a young uncle instead.

Your handicap?

Wow. Played a pro at only a disadvantage of four?

THE NUMBER OF STONES THAT CORRESPONDS TO A DIFFERENCE IN PLAYERS' STRENGTH

Black? Not white? Sure you didn't make a mistake?

Mistake? Really?

Why did you give him an unsolvable problem?

Just to confuse him, huh?

Go problems don't have answers.

I've never seen a play like his.

His haengma and opening are all mixed-up...

THE DIRECTION OR SHAPE OF STONES

...but oddly powerful.

OPENING TACTIC FOR THE GAME'S ADVANTAGE

Ah.

Is it solved?

He can do this.

- Bend and push. - No, no, no, right here.

- There, I mean-- - Oh, come on.

Ugh, what are you doing?

I told you I had to really concentrate a lot today.

Stop staring at me, or nothing will get done.

Yes, I hear you.

My grandson has important work,

so let's step out and have a drink. It'll be on me.

- My treat, come on. - I'm in trouble.

If I drink during the day, I know I'm going to pass out again.

Yeah. This guy can't even hold his milk--

What about your homework? You're concentrating on one thing?

Third generation, only-son, adored by his grandfather.

Humor him and say the boy's good, that he shows talent.

I'll take care of all the rest.

Ah!

Amazing, huh? His playing has a lot of maturity!

- I'm number one at Go club... - Hah.

...but I'm lucky if I win one out of ten matches with him.

Everyone around him keeps filling him with hot air, saying he's a prodigy,

absorbed in this silly game of stones instead of family business.

Go's stature has rising recently

thanks to Champion Cho right here.

There are more international competitions,

so, you can enhance Korea's prestige too.

- That's right. - Yes.

That being said,

Champion Cho,

I was hoping that you could perhaps take the boy on for a few months.

I would compensate you handsomely,

and sponsor you generously, of course.

You really should use that money to send him abroad

for the family business.

You can't improve at Go by studying hard.

There's really no point in me taking him on.

Talent?

Not a pinch.

No matter how hard I look.

Pro Cho!

Champion Cho!

Hey, Cho Hoon-hyun!

I worked for months trying to get that.

Listen, man. You know how much money he'll be sponsoring for us?

What are we now, beggars?

Business meetings, sponsorships, they're all fine,

but Go is more important than money.

He said it was silly!

Where's your pride?

Pride?

Min-je.

Cho Min-je, what are you up to?

- Daddy! - Cho Min-je!

Yah! Whoo-hoo!

Ah, you're here!

I made this for you, Daddy!

Hey, Cho Min-je, I told you not to touch the mail.

Leave it, leave it.

- I'll clean up. - Come here.

Is the mail interesting? Huh?

Come on, let's go wash your hands. Let's eat.

Could you please turn on the stove?

Let's go up.

I want to eat sausage.

You already had some this morning.

KEEP YOUR PROMISE FROM LEE CHANG-HO

Aw, man.

Hello?

Hey, Pro Lee. Cho Hoon-hyun.

Huh? Oh, right, yes.

That boy, Chang-ho?

Could I meet the boy again?

LEE'S CLOCK SHOP

- Oh, come on, let's go. Let's go. - Hurry.

SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED TODAY

Only three handicap stones.

But if I win, you'll teach me Go.

Why learn Go from me?

I heard you're the strongest player.

Korea's best player.