“…… In the just-concluded "Fujitsu Cup" round of 16, the Chinese team suffered a heavy blow. Only Li Xiaoqiang is the only chess player to enter the top 8. But it must be admitted that the competitiveness of the Chinese team is still there, because as long as the "chessboard wizard" is still alive, his strength cannot be underestimated by anyone......"

“…… Kobayashi Koji, who is the first player in Japanese Go, has a hard time understanding his performance in the World Series. Is it because they don't pay attention to it? Or is there another reason? No one can know now. However, in yesterday's match, Kobayashi continued his pattern of poor performances on the international stage. With a clear advantage, he retreated in the second half of the game until he squandered his lead. Due to Mr. Kobayashi's inexplicable performance, China's Li Xiaoqiang entered the top 8 of the "Fujitsu Cup". And Li Xiaoqiang's victory also avoided the embarrassment of the Chinese team being swept away......"

“…… Li Xiaoqiang of China, he is simply the nemesis of Japanese chess players......"

This is only the second round of the World Series, and under normal circumstances, winning or losing at this time is not much news. However, this time it was a little different, because Li Xiaoqiang became the only remaining seedling of the Chinese team, so when the round of 16 was over, the media of the three countries reported one after another. And the game of Li Xiaoqiang VS Kobayashi Koji became the focus of the report.

Counting the last competition, Chinese chess players have reached the top 8 alone in the "Fujitsu Cup" twice. But this time is different, the weight of Li Xiaoqiang and Shao Weigang is obviously different. Due to the existence of Li Xiaoqiang, both Japanese and Korean media must emphasize a fact when reporting on this competition, that is:

The Chinese team is still alive!

To be honest, this is indeed the case.

"Despite the large number of world championships won by China's new talents last year, the balance of power between China and South Korea is still largely maintained. South Korea's top new talent is about the same as China's strongest new talent, but the problem is that 'almost' is not good. Because if there is a new talent in South Korea. There will be 10 new talents in China. If South Korea wants to overwhelm China, it must have a new talent that is stronger than all Chinese new talents, and only one of them! ”

This was said by Li Shishi, a later generation, after a young Chinese chess player won all the world championships in a later year. It should be believed that this is Li Shishi's true words. Because this is also a true portrayal of Korean Go. than thickness, than the "backbone chess player". In fact, South Korea has always been inferior to China.

But from Cao Yanzi to Li Shifo, and then from Li Shifo to Li Shishi. For decades, the most talented Go players seem to have been descending on South Korea, which is the biggest reliance of Korean Go, and this is the main reason why they dare to complacently claim to be "the strongest country in Go" for decades. It's just that after Li Shishi, there has never been such a talented player in Korean Go, and their new generation of leader, Xiao Park, is almost as talented as China's "One Champion Group", so Korean Go has lost its leading position.

This is very similar to the current situation: there is only one Li Xiaoqiang left in China. But the Chinese team is still alive.

While the media is reporting on Li Xiaoqiang, it will naturally report on Li Xiaoqiang's background this time, Mr. Kobayashi Koji. In particular, the Japanese media criticized Mr. Kobayashi for a while. I think Mr. Kobayashi is simply losing inexplicably. Of course, what is the real situation? Is Li Xiaoqiang a reversal? They are not necessarily clear.

The only thing that is certain is that the version that Chinese chess fans see is certainly different. Because this is the only game won by Chinese chess players, it is conceivable that in the next issue of "Go" or "Go World" magazine, Li Xiaoqiang's game will definitely be the focus of the report. Zhang Da's press conference will give a detailed introduction to where Li Xiaoqiang won.

In addition to the Chinese and Japanese media. The Korean chess community is also paying attention to Li Xiaoqiang's win. Of course, their "perspective" is more unique. They counted Li Xiaoqiang's record against Japanese players over the years. came to a sensational conclusion, that is, Li Xiaoqiang specializes in "defeating" Japanese chess players. On the surface, these words seem to be nothing, but the implication of their words is very clear: Li Xiaoqiang is no problem with Japanese chess players, but against Korean chess players, he may not be so magical.

To be honest, if the South Korean media really want to think so. Then Li Xiaoqiang was helpless. In recent years, although Li Xiaoqiang has not fallen behind in the game against Korean players, his winning rate is indeed not high, and it is not as magical as that of Japanese players.

For example, in the World Series in the first 2 years, Li Xiaoqiang was eliminated by Dazhu Hero except once. The other several times were eliminated by Cao Yanzi, Liu Changhe and Li Shifo. Li Xiaoqiang and these top figures in the Korean chess world, the winning rate is almost five or five.

"Xiaoqiang, I remember what you said before you came: don't lose chess until you meet Cao Yanzi. It seems that you guys have premeditated, I think you are clearly running for the rhythm of the championship. Because if you want to meet Cao Yanzi, it will be compared to the semifinals at the earliest. ”

On the way back to China, Yu Bin and Li Xiaoqiang made jokes.

In the top 8 that has just been produced, half of them are Japanese chess players, and according to the principle that domestic chess players do not meet in advance, then Li Xiaoqiang's opponent in the top 8 can only be Japanese chess players. The matchup for the top 8 has been confirmed, and Li Xiaoqiang's opponent is Mr. Masao Kato, who has just eliminated Li Shifo.

In fact, the reason why everyone remembers Li Xiaoqiang's miraculous record against Japanese chess players is precisely that it happened at the draw ceremony of the top 8 match. When someone mentions "Who will stop Li Xiaoqiang?" Only then did I find out that there was no suitable candidate for the Japanese team.

Entering the top 8 of this year's "Fujitsu Cup" are Hero Otake, Hayashi Haifeng, Masao Kato and Zhao Jixun. Although these 4 are all famous, they are all well-known and super-first-class. It was only then that everyone found out that these people's records against Li Xiaoqiang were completely miserable.

Zhao Zhixun vs. Li Xiaoqiang, 0-2, Masao Kato vs. Li Xiaoqiang, 0-2. Lin Haifeng vs. Li Xiaoqiang, 0-1. These 3 plus Kobayashi's 0-2 loss. The four pillars of the Japanese chess world are actually hard to win in front of Li Xiaoqiang.

Counting the other two, Masaki Takemiya won 2 games against Li Xiaoqiang when he was a teenager, and Dazhu Hero won 1 game against Li Xiaoqiang the year before last.

"Mr. Otake, it seems that the task of blocking the chessboard wizard can only rely on you now......"

In the draw ceremony of the top 8 battle, someone once said this jokingly to the hero of Otake.

It's just a pity that Mr. Dazhu was taken away by Liu Changhe at the beginning, so he didn't have a chance to block Li Xiaoqiang again for the time being. From another point of view, it also left Li Xiaoqiang without a chance for revenge.

The other two groups are Cao Yanzi VS Zhao Zhixun, and Lin Haifeng VS Xu Fengzhu. After the matchup of the top 8 was confirmed, the "Fujitsu Cup" also came to an end for the time being. The round of 8 will not be held in China until June.

Returning to China from Japan, Li Xiaoqiang once again focused on the domestic arena. In these years, international competitions are relatively rare after all, and there are not a few games of chess played in a year. In fact, for a professional chess player, if you want to improve and maintain your condition, domestic chess battles are the real foundation of your life.

If you don't give other examples, take Cao Yanzi as an example. Why was he able to achieve "reverse growth"? Why is it so powerful in the international arena? The key role is still played in their domestic chess battles, right? That's right, although Cao Yanzi was beaten all over the ground by Li Shifo, although it looked miserable, many people should pay attention to the fact that while losing hundreds of games to Li Shifo, Cao Yanzi also won more than 100 games.

In absolute terms, Cao Yanzi is the chess player who has won the most against Li Shifo! Such a fact is probably the main reason for Cao Yanzi's "reverse growth".

"Hehe, if I can fight with Ma Xiaofei for a few years, there will be a "Ma Li hegemony" in China. In this way, while sharpening himself, can Ma Xiaofei's peak period be maintained for a longer time? In other words, can he be like Cao Yanzi and achieve a "reverse growth"......

Li Xiaoqiang is in the middle of his thoughts.

Although this is just a thought hidden in Li Xiaoqiang's heart. However, after returning to China, without much attention from everyone, Li Xiaoqiang's state seems to be really getting better, especially in the few games where Ma Xiaofei holds the title, Li Xiaoqiang is making rapid progress all the way. Gradually approaching Ma Xiaofei's throne.

On this day, Li Xiaoqiang had just finished a qualifier for the "Chess King Battle", and he was one step closer to the right to challenge. Coach Luo found Li Xiaoqiang with a smile:

"Xiaoqiang, let me ask you, would you like to participate in the new ring competition?"

"Well, the ring? Sino-Japanese Go Tournament? ”

"Yes, in the new China-Japan Go Tournament, in this competition, Lao Nie has made it clear that he will not participate. Then we consider that the new coach candidate will be produced between you and Ma Xiaofei. So come and ask for your own opinion first. ”

"Oh?!" (To be continued......)