Ep. 49: Toya outsmarts Sai while Hikaru resigns, prompting a future handicap-free rematch request.
Aired on September 18, 2002
Toya detects a skilled professional near Hikaru. Sai executes a complex game filled with traps, but Toya evades and modifies Sai's strategy. Hikaru resigns, leading Toya to ask for a future match without handicaps. Kuwabara suspects Hikaru played as if he had a handicap against him, explaining his overplays. This situation mirrors the Cho Chikun versus Otake Hideo game in the forty-fourth Oza Sen preliminaries on 14 July 1996.
Episodes
- Ep. 45 · Hikaru confronts Ochi, who employs a technique inspired by Akira, while Waya fights Fuku for professional status.
- Ep. 46 · Hikaru and Waya secure victories while Isumi fails to advance professionally
- Ep. 47 · Hikaru, Waya, and Ochi gain professional status and face evaluation matches.
- Ep. 48 · Hikaru allows Sai to play against Toya Meijin under strict conditions
- Ep. 49 · Toya outsmarts Sai while Hikaru resigns, prompting a future handicap-free rematch request.
- Ep. 50 · Sai reveals his past and rivalry with Akira while fearing he may never play Go again.
- Ep. 51 · Hikaru plays a pro against overpriced boards while Kurata watches
- Ep. 52 · Hikaru faces Akira in his first professional match during a Go ceremony.
- Ep. 53 · Hikaru Arranges High-Stakes Internet Go Match Against Toya Meijin