Chapter 989: The glance of the main family

Commentary desk.

The two commentators were originally analyzing the matchup situation of other professional players at other tables in a professional tone, evaluating each other's win rates and style restraint.

However, the moment the broadcast screen cut to table number one, clearly showing Natsume Chikage and Honda Chongsi sitting across the table, the voices of the two commentators appeared to have a brief stagnation.

The air in the studio seemed to pause as well.

This matchup... is too "topical."

Male commentator Jing Shang Ya San reacted first, his tone instantly injected with excitement and drama far beyond before:

"Spectator friends! What an unexpected development! A-zone table number one, we see Natsume Chikage contestant, and Honda Chongsi contestant face to face!"

"I believe friends who follow the tournament know what kind of stories exist between these two contestants, and the two schools behind them, Private Moonlight and Private Tianhao!"

His voice came through the microphone, carrying an inflammatory rise and fall.

"Is it fate? Or pure coincidence? We don't know. But one thing is certain, this duel is destined not to be calm from the beginning!"

Female commentator Nan Tiao Wu Zi immediately took over the conversation, her voice also carrying undisguised excitement:

"Yes, Jing Shang-san! This is not just a battle for the top thirty-two seats, but also mixed with personal grudges and school honor! Two young and sharp wills collide together, it is foreseeable that the offense and defense on the chessboard will inevitably be unusually fierce, even... full of the smell of gunpowder!"

Jing Shang Ya San nodded heavily, his gaze fixed on the screen.

"However, if we put aside the off-court factors and analyze only from the paper strength and past data..."

His tone changed, becoming objective and cautious, which is the necessary quality of a professional commentator.

"Natsume Chikage contestant is undoubtedly an amazing dark horse. No rank, lacking systematic training and high-intensity confrontation experience, but being able to break through to this place, his talent and on-the-spot adaptability have been fully proven. His shogi style is agile, often with unexpected ideas, which is the quality of a genius chess player."

He paused slightly, his voice lowered a little.

"However, his opponent this time, Honda Chongsi contestant, is also a recognized genius."

"Unlike the 'wild' of Natsume contestant, Honda contestant took a more orthodox, resource-tilted elite path. He has guidance from famous teachers, studied systematically since middle school, and promoted to professional 4-dan in three years; this speed itself is a miracle. His shogi style is solid and sharp, with rich tournament experience, and his psychological quality... at least in terms of provoking opponents, appears very 'tough'."

Nan Tiao Wu Zi added tacitly, her tone carrying a trace of regret that was hard to detect:

"So, from an objective perspective, the challenge Natsume contestant faces this time is unprecedented. He needs to confront not only a professional 4-dan who is technically comprehensive and experienced, but also a top-tier peer who has cashed in his talent and hard work to a very high degree. The paper win rate... is indeed not optimistic."

Jing Shang Ya San took over the conversation, trying to make the tone appear balanced:

"Of course, as Nan Tiao-san said, this is just a paper analysis. Natsume contestant's biggest feature is precisely his 'unpredictability'. His shogi path is very strange, and no one can assert whether he still has 'secret weapons' that we haven't seen."

"The final victory or defeat can only be revealed when the pieces fall!"

"Two geniuses, two completely different paths, are now intersecting on this square chessboard! Who is strong and who is weak, let us wait and see!"

The two commentators maintained professional restraint in their words, but their inner inclinations subtly emerged between the lines.

They appreciated Natsume Chikage's restrained sharpness and low-key character, secretly hoping that this dark horse could continue to create miracles.

However, rational analysis told them with absolute clarity that Honda Takashi's solid foundation, extensive database of matches, and malice-filled desire to win were, for the not-yet-fully-matured Natsume Chikage, nothing short of an insurmountable mountain.

They even felt some regret for this draw—if Natsume could avoid Honda, perhaps he could go further and accumulate more valuable experience.

Instead of risking being completely shattered in confidence here, or even suffering humiliation in front of everyone. ===== CHAPTER 990 =====