Sai Versus Toya Koyo; Hikaru Plays One Color Go!
by Barbara Kelley
Another great read! It nicely coincides with the anime version. This episode concludes the exciting Internet game between Sai and Toya Koyo. Sai manages to win by a narrow half point. However, Hikaru astutely points out to Sai that if Toya Koyo had placed a stone in a different particular space, then Toya would have emerged victorious by that same half point! The game had a global audience. People from all over the world were watching online. There was the professor from the Netherlands, the Chinese GO winner, Mr. Lee, the guy from New York, Ogata 9 Dan, the journalists in Japan, Waya (one of the fellow pros who became a pro with Hikaru), Akira Toya and his fellow buddies from his GO study group, and many others.
After that intense game, Hikaru engaged in a one color GO match with Kurata 6 Dan. Kurata offered some interesting advice to Akira. He told Akira that he should be vigilant as Hikaru was becoming equal to him. Akira shouldn't be overly concerned about winning against those above him but rather focus on those below him, especially Hikaru Shindo.
This was an excellent volume and I simply can't get enough of this manga! I guess I'll have to move on and read Volume 15 next. I have a habit of reading several books simultaneously, similar to watching multiple television series at the same time. I wholeheartedly gave this volume 5 stars!