"Hikaru is in the toughest battle of his life when he faces Ko Yong Ha, Korea's top player in the Hokuto Cup tournament. The stakes, however, aren't for personal glory but for something far deeper, something that differentiates a mere game from a way of life. Hikaru knows what this means to him, but will he understand what it means to the new wave of go players and, indeed, the game of go itself?"--Amazon.com.

Isumi's foreign training teaches him unique ways to handle the stress and mental challenges of competition. Upon his return, he asks Hikaru for a rematch. But how good will Hikaru's game be after such a long break--and without Sai? "Since Sai's disappearance, Hikaru has given up go! Meanwhile, undefeated by his failure to pass the pro test, Isumi plays his heart out in China. His foreign training teaches him unique ways to handle the stress of mental...