In mid-May, Li Xiaoqiang left for South Korea again to participate in the semifinals of the first "Samsung Cup".

Since only one Chinese chess player entered the top 4, only Coach Luo and reporter Zhang Da accompanied Li Xiaoqiang to South Korea this time.

"Xiaoqiang, how do you feel?"

When everyone set off, Coach Luo was first concerned about Li Xiaoqiang's state. Li Xiaoqiang responded with a smile:

"It should be okay."

It has been about half a month since the "Toyo Securities Cup" lost to Satoru Kobayashi. In the past half a month, Li Xiaoqiang did not play a single official game, he also played 2 games of rapid chess, and won this year's "CCTV Cup" with him.

This is the first time Li Xiaoqiang has won this cup championship. While winning this championship, together with the previous "Tianyuan Battle" championship and the "Top Ten Battle" championship, Li Xiaoqiang has unconsciously taken the three most important championships produced in the domestic chess world this year into his arms.

Of course, the reason why it is said "unconsciously" is because the championship won by Li Xiaoqiang did not attract anyone's attention. In the past half month, all the eyes and topics of the Go world have focused on the finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup" between Cao Yanzi and Kobayashi Jue.

"Now some people are saying that you really don't seem to be wronged when you lost to Kobayashi Jue in the semifinals, judging from the performance in this final, it should be that Kobayashi Jue really has two brushes. Tsk, Lao Cao's luck is really good......"

On the way to Seoul, reporter Zhang Da was still talking about Cao Yanzi's "good luck". Li Xiaoqiang smiled and was silent. It has been several days since the final of the Toyo Securities Cup, but the content and progress of the final are still a topic of conversation.

"Thoughts? My biggest feeling is that I feel a little sorry for Mr. Satoru Kobayashi. Although I was 3-0 in this final in terms of score, in terms of content, it should be me 0-3......"

This is the first sentence Cao Yanzi said in an interview with reporters after the game after winning this championship. It should be said that Cao Yanzi's words are not entirely modest. At least judging from the content of the three games of chess in the final, what Lao Cao said seems to be indeed the truth.

In the first game of the finals, Kobayashi Satoru established his advantage early, just when everyone thought that his victory was in sight. Satoru Kobayashi made a common mistake among Japanese players, as he began to give in to the advantage. However, Cao Yanzi became more and more courageous, giving full play to his "turnaround technique", and finally successfully reversed the chess game.

If the first game of chess is not yet illustrative, then the second game of chess is indeed a bit funny, after watching the second game of chess, everyone has to say a word "injustice" for Kobayashi Jue.

Before the end of the second game, it was still Kobayashi Jue's superior situation, and this advantage was even greater than the first game. He and Cao Yanzi had a robbery, and this robbery was more important to me. If Kobayashi Satoru loses this robbery. It can be said that there is no loss at all, which is basically equivalent to a "worry-free disaster". And if Lao Cao loses this catastrophe, then a big dragon will be wiped out. Therefore, for Lao Cao, this calamity is equivalent to a "life and death calamity".

"Worry-free calamity" vs. "life and death calamity", you can imagine how big Kobayashi Jue's advantage was at that time. Li Xiaoqiang remembered that everyone had calculated for Xiao Lin Jue during the game, and because of the advantage of robbing materials, Xiao Lin Jue had a good chance to eat Cao Yanzi's big dragon. Even if the safest method is adopted, Kobayashi Jue lets Lao Cao's Dalonglian go home, as long as he finds an official with more than 5 eyes as a robbery. Most of that game was won.

can prefer to die or not, Xiao Lin Jue at such a critical moment, he ignored the magic of "standing all the way", and he went to find a "blind robbery......

Find the consequences of "blind robbery". He let Cao Yanzi unconditionally win the "life and death calamity", not to mention, but also because of the clever move that induced others to "stand all the way", he also lost a few chess games in that situation. Even after suffering such a big loss, the final result of that game of chess. Kobayashi only lost 3 and a half meshes. Therefore, after this game of chess, almost everyone thought that Kobayashi Jue had lost too unjustly.

The so-called catastrophe does not die, and there will be blessings. Lao Cao can even win this kind of chess. When the game came to that point, it could be said that no one doubted that the final championship would definitely belong to Lao Cao. Even so, the last game of chess is actually a good move for Kobayashi Jue. For the vast majority of the time, that game has also been Kobayashi's strength. It may be that when it comes to the third set, even Kobayashi Jue himself has no confidence. In the second half of the game, he began to retreat step by step and began to play some inexplicable chess again. The consequence of this is that Cao Yanzi won his third world championship with a score of 3-0.

"Thoughts? Mr. Cao just said that his biggest feeling is that he is sorry for me, so my biggest feeling now is that I feel a little sorry for China's Li Xiaoqiang, I think if Li Xiaoqiang came to play this chess, the outcome might be completely opposite......"

This is Satoru Kobayashi's "post-match speech" released after the game. In short, after listening to this kind of talk, it is difficult for you to figure out what kind of mood he was in at that time.

"Xiaoqiang, do you have any opinion on Kobayashi Jue's statement?"

On the plane, reporter Zhang Da asked Li Xiaoqiang like this. Li Xiaoqiang didn't bother to pay attention to reporter Zhang Da's obvious stimulation of himself, and he responded lazily:

"It's all in the past, what else can I say. Don't you know that my biggest advantage is that I like to look forward, talk about the upcoming "Samsung Cup", and I may also accompany you to say a few words. Let's talk about things that have passed, I'm sorry, I don't have time. ”

"Okay, then let's talk about the upcoming "Samsung Cup", this time to South Korea, who do you want your opponent to be? ”

Hearing reporter Zhang Da mention this issue, Li Xiaoqiang smiled:

"Needless to say, of course I hope to meet that one, but I found that my luck in the lottery some time ago has not been very good, and I don't know if I can transfer this time."

Hearing Li Xiaoqiang say this, reporter Zhang Da laughed:

"Xiaoqiang, you guy, I find that you are becoming more and more hypocritical now. I remember that you didn't say that when you were interviewed by reporters in public, I remember you didn't say to the outside world before: You respect every opponent, and you are the same as everyone you are......"

The top 4 players who entered the first "Samsung Cup", except for Li Xiaoqiang, a Chinese chess player, the other three are Korean chess players. They are Yoo Chang-hyuk, Lee Seok-fo and Yang Jae-ho. And so far, Li Xiaoqiang doesn't know who his opponent will be in the next round.

This is what sets the "Samsung Cup" apart from other world competitions. The organizers of the "Samsung Cup" seem to be very fond of coming up with some new tricks. For example, in other world series, the draw for the next round is usually held immediately after the end of one round. But the "Samsung Cup" is not, it always likes to do something unconventional. When Li Xiaoqiang first entered the top 4 one month ago, he received a notice from the organizer that it was said that in order to make the game more interesting, the draw ceremony for the semi-finals would be held on the first day of the competition.

Now you know why reporter Zhang Da is laughing, right? Among the opponents that Li Xiaoqiang may meet, there is one opponent who is slightly different, he is recognized by everyone as a "soft persimmon". This is why reporter Zhang Da made fun of Li Xiaoqiang.

"Do you think it's really possible for you to draw Liang Jae-ho?"

"Who knows ...... this" Li Xiaoqiang waved his hand: "The normal probability is one third, if the organizer wants to do something, I think this probability may be higher." ”

Reporter Zhang Da's eyes widened: "What kind of logic do you have?" Think the Koreans might do something to get you to draw Yang Jae-ho and put you in the finals! ”

"Empathy, empathy, reporter Zhang Da ......" Li Xiaoqiang said to reporter Zhang Da with a smile:

"You're speaking logically, it's just the logic of ordinary Koreans. If I just look at it from the perspective of an ordinary Korean, in order to make it more difficult for me to win the championship, of course, they want me to meet strong opponents in every round. But don't forget, the organizers are not ordinary Koreans, they are capitalists, and the purpose of hosting Go competitions is of course to pursue the maximum advertising effect. And don't forget, the final of the Samsung Cup is scheduled to be played in Shencheng, China. So you can think about it, from the sponsor's point of view, do they want me to make it to the finals? ”

"Oh? Listening to you say that, it seems to make a little sense. ”

"Hehe, because this is the first time, I don't think the organizers will do anything, so the next draw is a matter of pure probability. I'd love to see how lucky I'm doing right now. ”

"Hahahaha......"

Li Xiaoqiang's luck seems to be good.

The Chinese delegation arrived in South Korea on the same day and held a lottery ceremony in the evening. Li Xiaoqiang didn't do it himself at all, when Li Shifo took the lead in unfolding the small note in his hand, when he set his eyes on Liu Changhe. Li Xiaoqiang's opponent has actually been determined.

Yang Jae-ho! Li Xiaoqiang's opponent in the semi-finals of the first "Samsung Cup" was Liang Jae-hao.

Either way, it's a good sign.

The second day after the draw ceremony is the day when the official competition begins. Before Li Xiaoqiang walked to the arena, Coach Luo pulled Li Xiaoqiang:

"Xiaoqiang, be careful."

Li Xiaoqiang glanced at Coach Luo deeply. Of course, Li Xiaoqiang knew that Coach Luo was worried that he would repeat the mistake of the semifinals of the "Toyo Securities Cup". But is it possible? Li Xiaoqiang thinks that this possibility is very small, at least Li Xiaoqiang is full of confidence in his current self.

Let's not say that I have suffered a loss, and I don't say that the level of the opponent is different -- Kobayashi Jue is the reigning "chess saint" of Japan, and Liang Jaehao, a few years ago, he was called the No. 5 person in Korean Go, and in recent years, due to the rise of Choi Myung-hoon and others, his No. 5 position has been lost. Another key factor: the semi-finals will be a trilogy.

If you play a three-way game, it will of course be beneficial to the side with a high level and to your advantage. Li Xiaoqiang believes that there is no doubt about this.

"Don't worry, Coach Luo." After saying this, Li Xiaoqiang walked to the arena.

After Li Xiaoqiang left, Coach Luo asked reporter Zhang Da:

"Xiaoqiang is gone, so what are we going to do?"

"That's a show, of course."

"Watching a play?"

"Of course ......" reporter Zhang Da laughed: "This semi-final, mainly to watch the drama ...... between Li Shifo and Liu Changhe" (to be continued.) )