pi ying takes a sadistic pleasure in pointless exchanges of pieces meant to wear down kelly, who begins to doubt himself over every move he makes. eventually, he realizes that his only chance to win involves sacrificing one of his knights, played by his sons. pi ying captures the piece; before he can order the boy's execution, though, his companion stabs him and herself to death. barzov then takes over for pi ying, but is defeated by kelly's trap. he spares the captured son's life and offers to transport the twelve surviving group members to safety, saying that since the united states and ussr are not officially at war, he would have let them go even if kelly had lost. not wanting kelly to leave thinking he is a better chess player, barzov suggests a rematch with no lives at stake. kelly declines, but says he will play at a later time if barzov insists on it.