Based on the comments section, Pro is inclined to pick option 2 so let's stick to that.
I am not gonna put too much effort in as I want to save this topic for another debate if this one doesn't properly set off and don't want to tip off too much to my future opponent.
Deuk-su's aggressive moves all consistently revolved around maintaining an aura of intimidation combined with genuine proof that he can and will brutally make those outside of his support-group lose, even by killing them. This is entirely optimal to do since that is actually allowed.
He is proven many times to have a shocking amount of nuance to his brute-appearing way of life. For instance, he had no real reason to offer Sae-Byeok to join his gang when the 'returners' who came back after cancelling the games reformed. He had a feeling of kinship to the girl he'd trained to pickpocket and con people and deep down he had charisma, at least I saw it. If it were just the brutal side of him that existed, he'd never really have survived for long. He knew people just as good as he knew 'fighting'. That's also why when Gi-hun warns him many episodes later on the night following the tug-of-war that Deuk-su shouldn't really attack them in the middle of the night as his own gang has every reason to stab him (Deuk-su) in the back during the ambush, Deuk-su actually sees the logic in itand instantly drops the tough-guy act respecting Gi-hun's wisdom and warning.
Sang-woo, in contrast, begins brutally backstabbing people for no real gain at many points in the series. He stabs Gi-hun in the back because he really thought that they'd snitch on him if he revealed he knew the challenge ahead and was hoping the old man would end up with the umbrella and lose. On top of this, Sang-woo could easily, definitely have defeated Gi-hun in the final squid game, if you watch it slowly and analyse the moves, Sang-woo intentionally lost the fight and actually pushed the glass expert in the glass game so that Gi-hun could survive. There were a few seconds left and one tile left undiscovered, if Sang-woo (who was just behind the glass expert) waited for him to panic and pick, Sae-Byeok and Gi-hun would both have died very easily, Sang-woo could even trip them up as clearly combat hadn't been ruled out. The glass expert wasn't that strong-looking and was well into middle age bodily aging. Sang-woo had a lot of reason to want the final 2 to just be him and the glass expert. He chose not to because of some strange irrational urge linked to his suicidal tendencies all the way back in the bath tub.
One may wonder why an otherwise brilliant tactician kept using aggression irrationally and the answer lies entirely in psychiatry I believe. Furthermore, had the old man not been on their team for tug of war, Sang Woo's team very likely would have lost.
in his ruthlessness, yes
Just making sure I have this correct, OPTION 2 debates that Jang Deok-su is less rational and less justified than Cho Sang-woo?
I just want to make sure I'm not debating the wrong topic.
it is extremely obvious I meant Nanno, there isn't a character named Nonnu in it that I know of.
I typod, Nanno not Nonnu. sorry about it