I am extremely excited and looking forward to the next volume with great anticipation!

Every time I think about what might be in the upcoming volume, my heart is filled with a sense of excitement and eagerness.

I wonder what new adventures, storylines, and characters it will bring. Will there be unexpected twists and turns that will keep me on the edge of my seat?

Perhaps there will be new revelations that will deepen my understanding of the overall plot. I can't wait to dive into the next volume and explore all the wonderful things it has to offer.

The anticipation is killing me, but it also makes the wait all the more worthwhile. I am sure that the next volume will be just as amazing as the previous ones, if not better.

So, I will continue to wait patiently, with my heart filled with excitement and joy, for the release of the next volume.

This penultimate volume finally heats the suspense up again.

Hikaru, Akira, and Kiyoharu are representing Japan in the Japan-China-Korea Young Lions tournament, with Kurabata Sensei as the Japanese team leader. After the Korean player Ko Yong Ha supposedly insulted Sai's former student, Hon'inbo Shusaku, Hikaru is determined to put him in his place. However, Ko Yong Ha is the top Korean player, and it means Akira Toya is the one slated to face him. Hikaru asks Kurabata to let him play in the first position instead, and Kurabata says he'll decide after seeing the results of the Japan-China game.

So, this volume showcases the games between the Japanese and Chinese players. Hikaru's game against Wang Shizhen is, of course, where all the drama unfolds. For most of the game, Hikaru is getting pushed around the board. In the endgame, after all the observers have pretty much written him off, Hikaru begins to channel his inner Sai and mounts an impressive attempt at a comeback.

This was reminiscent of earlier volumes with high-stakes games, and it leads us to the final volume, with Japan's game against Korea. Although there was nothing really new here - I think the series has just about played itself out, which is why it's good that it's nearing its end - it still brought back a little of that go magic. There were parts of the game where I could actually look at the board and figure out what was going on.

It's been an exciting journey following Hikaru and his adventures in the world of go. The series has had its ups and downs, but it's been a great read overall. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends in the final volume.

SPOILER

It's truly difficult to distinguish the plot at present. The reason being that I read the last 7 volumes in a single day last Saturday. There was simply NO WAY I could put the series down. I had an intense desire to see the end! (Even though I was aware that there would be an open end, as we can't follow Hikaru and Akira throughout their entire lives).

The international tournament commences, and there is a significant amount of drama unfolding on the sidelines. However, it's not as exciting and intense as I had anticipated it to be. It seems that perhaps my expectations were set too high. Nevertheless, I'm still eager to see how the story progresses and what further developments lie ahead for our beloved characters.

Pretty great board game manga!

It truly captivated me with its engaging story. The plot was filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

Not only that, but the art was really nice too! The illustrations were detailed and vibrant, bringing the characters and the board game world to life.

The combination of the great story and beautiful art made this manga a real pleasure to read. I found myself completely immersed in the world of the board game, rooting for the characters and eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.

I would highly recommend this board game manga to anyone who loves a good story and beautiful art. It's definitely a must-read!