I now understand why the anime ended at the final chapter of this volume. I think it's a good ending. Of course, there are still 6 volumes of the manga left. I'm looking forward to it~

Anime-manga match-up:

The second half of episode 70 corresponds to volume 17 up to page 25 (from the 140th to the 140.9th inning).

Episode 71 covers volume 17 pages 26-51 (from the 140.9th to the 141st inning).

Episode 72 includes volume 17 pages 54-92 (from the 142nd to the 143rd inning).

Episode 73 consists of volume 17 pages 94-135 (from the 144th to the 145th inning).

Episode 74 contains volume 17 pages 137-177 (from the 146th to the 147.9th inning).

Episode 75 goes from volume 17 page 176 to the end (from the 147.9th to the 148th inning).

Actually, the second half of the final episode contains scenes from the first chapter of volume 19 followed by a wrap-up/closure. And that's the end of the anime. However, there are still a few more manga volumes...

Couldn't find a record for the English language version -- sadly, I do not speak Japanese.

I was truly touched by this volume of the series. Hikaru comes to the realization that with Sai missing, the only way he can feel close to him is by playing go and doing it as well as he possibly can. It's quite remarkable how Yumi Hotta has the ability to make me so tense about the outcome of a go match. I still don't quite understand how she does it, but she is really, really good at it.

The story of Hikaru and his connection to Sai through go is both heartwarming and engaging. As I read this volume, I found myself completely invested in Hikaru's journey and his attempts to keep Sai's spirit alive through the game. Yumi Hotta's writing is so vivid and descriptive that I could almost picture the go matches unfolding in front of my eyes.

Overall, I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good story about determination, friendship, and the power of a passion for something. Even if you don't know anything about go, you will still be able to appreciate the emotional depth and the wonderful characters in this series.

This could've been indeed a good ending point for the series.

Finally, a match between Akira and Hikaru took place. The situation was settling down, and there was talk about the „young wave”. Isumi passed the pro test, and Toya Sensei signed with a Chinese team. And Hikaru... well, Hikaru understood that Sai's time was up. The finale was nicely done, and for once, the story felt complete.

However, the story doesn't end here. So, I'm really looking forward to what's next.

On the second reading, I truly love that Yumi Hotta starts to experiment with the narrative form. She also takes a few liberties. For example, she allows Toya and Shindo to actually communicate, and that too, honestly, about Sai. Moreover, she doesn't tell us about the result of their match. Instead, she references it in an excellent goodbye to Sai.

I don't think it would've been a perfect ending, though. But it's an excellent arc-closing. Finally, there is some real closure with Sai. And finally, we see Hikaru on his own. It's really nice.