Go and sleep may look like two separate fields, but both value rhythm, balance and steady accumulation over the long term. The 6th MLILY Zero-Pressure Mattress Cup World Go Open (the Chinese name is "梦百合0压床垫杯") held its international qualifiers in Rugao this May, and the main tournament, from the round of 64 to the round of 16, was played at the China Qiyuan (China Weiqi Institute) in Beijing in August. Beyond the tournament itself, Ni Zhanggen (倪张根), founder of MLILY (梦百合), recently gave an interview to *SleepWorld Magazine*, a U.S. publication covering the sleep health industry. In it, he discussed the common misconception that "a firm bed protects your lower back," and the responsibility companies bear in promoting public understanding of sleep. The Chinese Weiqi Association is pleased to see a partner that supports Go also take a scientific approach to spreading health knowledge. One Tournament, Thirteen Years of Sustained Support Since the first tournament in 2013, Mlily (梦百合) has hosted this world Go open for six consecutive editions. Over more than ten years, the event has provided a stage on which professional players, women players, amateur players and veteran players compete side by side, and it has become the world Go open with the longest history and the most editions held in China. This May, the international qualifying rounds of the 6th Mlily Cup began in Rugao (如皋); in August, the main event's rounds from the Round of 64 to the Round of 16 were successfully held at the China Qiyuan (中国棋院) in Beijing; the later stages of the tournament are scheduled to take place next year. Mlily is also the stress-relief product supplier to the Chinese national Go team, supporting the team's preparations for competition. The Chinese Weiqi Association (中国围棋协会) thanks Mlily and its chairman Ni Zhanggen (倪张根) for their long-term commitment to Go in China. A Misconception That Needs Scientific Evidence to Clear Up "Sleeping on a hard bed protects the lower back" is a belief passed down through generations in many Chinese households. A 2024 survey by iiMedia Research found that 75.1% of respondents agreed with this view. But in a feature in SleepWorld Magazine, Li Qiyang (李其阳), a board member of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT), cited a randomized, double-blind controlled trial published in The Lancet: 313 participants with chronic non-specific low back pain used either a firm mattress or a medium-firm mattress. After a 90-day follow-up, the medium-firm group showed better improvement than the firm group in pain while lying in bed and in pain-related disability. Li noted that there is insufficient evidence for the idea that a sleeping surface is "the harder, the better," and that excessive hardness does not equal good ergonomics. Another study, supported by Mlily (梦百合) and jointly conducted by Harvard Medical School, Dalian Weite'ao International Hospital, and the School of Science at Beijing Jiaotong University and published in Sleep Medicine, enrolled 117 participants. The study found no significant differences in overall sleep metrics, but among participants who had originally reported low sleep satisfaction, switching to a medium-firm memory foam mattress helped them reach a relatively stable deep-sleep physiological state more quickly. Domestic experts also stress that a medium-firm mattress better meets the needs of spinal health: the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Rehabilitation Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation states that a medium-firm mattress should be the first choice. These studies suggest that mattresses should not be judged simply as good or bad by how soft or firm they are; moderate support and pressure distribution deserve more attention. A Sense of Responsibility: The Value of Corporate Involvement in Science Outreach In an interview, Ni Zhanggen (倪张根) said that catering to consumers' habits is often easier than changing them, but when a long-standing misconception is known to exist, helping people rethink sleep is also part of a company's responsibility, "even if, at times, it comes at a commercial cost." These words capture the original intention behind companies' involvement in science outreach. At the same time, science communication has its limits: it should rest on scientific evidence and respect professional boundaries. Related research points to trends at the group level and cannot replace professional diagnosis and treatment. Sleep and spinal health vary considerably from person to person, so anyone with persistent discomfort should promptly consult a medical professional. Go emphasizes the "honte" (本手), and it also emphasizes balance. A honte is a move that accords with the principles of the game and stands up to the test of time. The same is true of sleep: a surface that is too hard or too soft is not necessarily suitable, and what deserves pursuing is the right amount of support and cushioning. From the contest on the board at the Mengbaihe Cup (梦百合杯) to the long-term commitment to sleep education, what the two share is respect for science and for natural patterns. The Chinese Weiqi Association (中国围棋协会) will continue to support branded events such as the Mengbaihe Cup, and it also hopes that more social forces will take part, in a responsible way, in spreading Go culture and health knowledge. We look forward to another exciting edition of the 6th MLILY Zero-Pressure Mattress Cup World Go Open next year.
