IVE member Gaeul emerged as a new force in the brain-survival arena with a game-changing victory.
In episode 7 of the Netflix daily variety show Death Game: Bet 10 Million won (directed by Kwon Dae-hyun, produced by TEO), released Wednesday the 4th, a one-on-one brainical match between lawyer Yang Na-rae and IVE's Gaeul delivered intense immersion.
The real duel between two people born in the year of the horse, staged to mark the year of the red horse, was undoubtedly intriguing. New face Gaeul of IVE appeared before lawyer Yang Na-rae, who had defeated actor Park Sung-woong and was seeking a second consecutive win. Known as a board game enthusiast, Gaeul said, "I usually really like brain games, so I appeared on the survival show. I will show that I'm not an easy opponent," expressing confident determination. Commentary panelist Jang Dong-min mentioned Ahn Yu-jin, with whom he worked on the Crime Scene series, and said he had heard from Ahn Yu-jin that she is good, showing his expectations.
This game, "Let the horse run," is a strategy game in which players move their own piece and must occupy the exact center of the board, the "oasis," before the opponent to win; the player who wins two of three rounds first becomes the final winner. In particular, controlling the cross line leading to the oasis was the key to victory, requiring high-level calculation and psychological play that anticipated moves ahead.
Yang Na-rae warned, "My piece's path of movement could become a stepping stone for the opponent's piece to enter the center," signaling a cautious, defense-oriented play. By contrast, Gaeul said she planned to quickly grasp the opponent's strategy and closely pursue it. She said she would flexibly switch between offense and defense depending on the situation to control the flow. Jang Dong-min began by saying, "I learned Hangeul in third grade of elementary school. I played janggi before I learned to read," then added, "What matters in a tactical battle is to secure both offense and defense. You have to think at least ten moves ahead."
In the early stages of the match, the two players carried out exploratory moves, limiting each other's routes rather than rushing straight to the center. Amid intense tactical exchanges, Gaeul seized the lead with calm attacks that took advantage of her opponent's mistakes, and in the second round she gained the upper hand with remarkable play that considered defense and attack simultaneously.
With this, Gaeul emerged as the winner of episode 7 and received the seed, the emblem of victory, along with prize money of 10 million won. Yang Na-rae, who failed to secure a second consecutive win, reflected, "It's been a long time since I've concentrated for such a short period like this since the bar exam." Commentators Jang Dong-min and caster Park Sang-hyun lauded Gaeul's comeback victory, saying, "She's a person who is truly cool-headed, composed and knows the exact points," and "the era of IVE is opening."
Meanwhile, at the end of the broadcast, survival planner and 2.8 million YouTuber Jin Yong-jin teased an appearance, heightening expectations. Questions remain about whether Gaeul, who declared a challenge for a second consecutive win, can continue her winning streak following Yang Na-rae.
Meanwhile, Death Game is a one-on-one brainical final match decided in a single round and is released every Wednesday at 5 p.m. on Netflix.<
[Photo] Netflix
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