Chapter 490

A little earlier.

Competition site.

Suzuki Takayuki, who held the first move, clamped the "Bishop" steadily with his fingertips.

"Clap!"

The crisp sound of the piece landing announced his most proficient "Side Pawn Picker" opening.

The pieces moved forward, the posture was active, and the first-move advantage was faintly revealed in the layout stage.

He looked up at Natsume Chikage opposite him, his eyes shining with the faint light of meeting a worthy opponent, but deeper down was calm scrutiny and the certainty of being a "quasi-professional."

Natsume Chikage’s gaze stayed on the newly placed piece for only a moment, and his right hand had already swept across the chess box like the wind.

"Click."

A "Rook" landed in a steady position, responding without a hint of fireworks, his face calm and waveless.

The opening moved forward with the fast "click," "click" sounds.

Suzuki Takayuki’s layout was smooth and orthodox, unfolding like a textbook, the pieces coordinated, and the space stretched.

Natsume Chikage’s response appeared solid, even slightly "orthodox," step by step, defending steadily.

After a few rounds, relying on the advantage of the first move and more precise handling of fixed patterns, Suzuki Takayuki gained some small real estate and situational initiative in the local area.

On the chessboard, his formation was more open, and the efficiency of the pieces seemed to be a notch higher.

At the commentary desk.

Inoue Masazo analyzed:

"Looking at it now, Contestant Suzuki’s first-move advantage is fully utilized, and the situation is slightly active. Contestant Natsume’s response is very solid, but the passivity of the second move is still reflected."

Nanjo Maiko nodded:

"Yes, this is a typical 'orthodox school' first-move good situation. Contestant Natsume needs to wait patiently for opportunities."

Suzuki Takayuki looked at the slightly leading situation, and the vigilance he had because of the opponent’s consecutive wins quietly loosened a bit.

Sure enough...

It’s about what I expected.

The so-called 'dark horse', winning against Morimoto, is more luck plus the opponent’s poor state.

After all, that guy Morimoto has never won against me even once.

A hint of imperceptible contempt grew in his excited desire to win.

The corners of his mouth moved imperceptibly, his placement remained steady, but his thinking had turned to how to expand this existing small advantage.

He chose a "surround" that looked ordinary but contained subsequent pressure, intending to further limit the opponent’s formation, while quietly reinforcing his own weaknesses.

Natsume Chikage’s response was still an almost unthinking "second response."

"Click."

A piece landed, the position was precise, just stuck in the path Suzuki Takayuki wanted to expand, although not counterattacking, it made his advance stagnate.

Suzuki Takayuki frowned slightly.

This move... feels a bit annoying.

Defending so tightly?

He had to spend a little more time than the previous few moves to re-evaluate and choose another route to exert pressure.

However, in the next few moves, the situation began to change subtly.

Every "second response" of Natsume Chikage landed in a position that made Suzuki Takayuki uncomfortable.

Not a fierce counterattack, but like precise acupuncture, every placement hit the key acupuncture points of the situation’s balance.

Suzuki Takayuki tried to expand his advantage, but under the opponent’s fast and precise response, the effect was constantly weakened.

He faintly felt that the slight advantage he had earlier was being ground away bit by bit, extremely patiently.

What’s going on?

This guy’s response... why is it so accurate every time?

Suzuki Takayuki’s speed of placing pieces slowed down subconsciously.

The ease on his face gradually faded, replaced by a focus.

After a clever "exchange" by Natsume Chikage, the pieces on the chessboard were redistributed, and the inherent opening disadvantage of the second move was silently wiped out!

The situation returned to a balance, and even because a few of Natsume Chikage’s pieces occupied better points with more elasticity, a hint of subsequent power was faintly revealed!

"This...!" Suzuki Takayuki’s heart shook, his pupils shrank.

He looked up at Natsume Chikage suddenly.

The other side was still looking at the chessboard calmly, as if the few moves that balanced the situation were just casual.

This guy isn't relying on luck!

He has real stuff!

The contempt was completely put away, Suzuki Takayuki’s eyes became sharp, and his body leaned forward slightly.

He, started to get serious for real!!

The commentary desk and the audience, at this moment, also noticed the change.

Inoue Masazo’s voice carried surprise:

"Huh? The situation... is it tied?"

"Contestant Natsume, through these extremely precise responses in the middle game, actually completely eliminated the opening disadvantage of the second move!"

"Even faintly showing signs of turning the guest into the host!"

Nanjo Maiko also exclaimed:

"Unbelievable!"

"Under Contestant Suzuki’s such solid first-move layout, Contestant Natsume can actually catch up so steadily and efficiently."

"It seems we guessed wrong before... This Contestant Natsume is really not simple, his talent is afraid to be stronger than we imagined."

In the audience.

Fukuda Tsukasa’s original proud smile froze on his face, and he couldn't help but complain.

No—what are you doing, Suzuki Takayuki?

Weren't you dominant just now, and this was all beaten back?

Can you play or not?!

Horikawa Kaori put down her hands that were covering her mouth, the worry in her eyes did not fade, but there was a bit of unbelievable light.

Obviously, she didn't expect that Natsume Chikage, whom she had always been pessimistic about, would actually fight back slowly in the disadvantage of the second move when facing the strongest quasi-professional player now.

Asahina Akatsuki loosened her bitten lower lip, her gaze wandered between Natsume Chikage’s calm profile and the chessboard, her heartbeat accelerating inexplicably.

But thinking that her childhood sweetheart was Takayuki, and he was slowly turning back to a disadvantage because of Natsume Chikage’s offensive, she couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

It’s so hard to choose...

The palm is meat, and the back of the hand is also meat.

Which side should I support?

Tanabe Yuto’s always indifferent face also showed obvious surprise, his eyes wide open.

Takayuki, didn't you always crush us when you faced us before?

Why are you instead changing from advantage to disadvantage when facing Natsume Chikage, whom we could all treat with a basic big advantage?

Get serious, you bastard!!

Although many people don't want to believe it.

But the wind direction at this moment has begun to change.

After Suzuki Takayuki got serious, he completely put his mind into the game, trying to regain the initiative by virtue of a deeper foundation.

He chose a series of complex chain means and finally successfully ate one of Natsume Chikage’s forward "Pawns."

He gained a little, but before he had time to savor this small result—

Natsume Chikage’s next move followed like a shadow.

"Click."

A "Silver General" pushed forward one square, the position was brilliant—just stuck the main retreat and flank contact of the piece that had just eaten the "Pawn" and was therefore somewhat prominent!

This piece, originally used for offense, instantly became "dilemma": advancing lacked subsequent means, retreating was blocked, becoming a somewhat awkward "lone piece."

Suzuki Takayuki frowned, staring at this local area.

But after examining the overall situation, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a "see-through" expression.

So that’s it... he wants to use the inactivity of my piece to plan an 'insertion' operation on the other side, attacking my weak links?

Very keen, but... I saw it!

Suzuki Takayuki confidently judged Natsume Chikage’s intention and decided to use the plan against him, striking first!

Since you think I’m weak here and want to insert?

Then I will take the lead, throw in a stronger piece, and carry out a deeper "insertion"!

Disturb your thoughts!

This not only resolves your potential threat to my "lone piece," but also uses the method of besieging Wei to save Zhao to rescue my piece.

I can even turn the guest into the host and create greater chaos in your position!

"Clap!"

Suzuki Takayuki placed the piece forcefully, a "Knight" leaped up proudly, crossed the chessboard, and fiercely threw itself into the depths of Natsume Chikage’s formation!

The posture was tough, intending to reverse the offense and defense in one fell swoop!

However.

The moment his piece landed, his fingertips left, and he secretly cheered for his "brilliant move" in his heart—

Natsume Chikage’s always calm eyes seemed to flash a faint light extremely quickly.

Then, almost at the same moment Suzuki Takayuki slapped the chess clock, his fingers had already picked up a piece.

"Click."