In the 9th "Asian Cup" TV Rapid Chess Tournament, Li Xiaoqiang easily passed the first round and soon ushered in his second opponent.

After the draw, Li Xiaoqiang's opponent in the semifinals was Kobayashi Koji. Since losing to Kobayashi Koji in the semi-finals of the "Fujitsu Cup" in '95, this is the first time the two have met in the last two years. The other semi-final is Wang Licheng VS Li Shifo.

As a unique competition on the international stage, the "Asian Cup" is different from other competitions in that the two semi-finals do not start at the same time. Since there are only 6 games in a "Asian Cup", all the matches will be staggered in order to better televise the matches.

For example, in the two semifinals this time, the match between Wang Licheng VS Li Shifo was held in the morning, while the duel between Li Xiaoqiang and Kobayashi Koji was left until the afternoon.

On the morning of the semi-finals, reporter Zhang Da found Li Xiaoqiang:

"Xiaoqiang, do you want to stay in the hotel to rest, or go to the chess academy to watch the game?"

"Let's go see the game."

Anyway, being idle now is idle, Li Xiaoqiang decided to go out for a walk. The venue of this "Asian Cup" is located at the Japan Chess Academy, not far from the hotel where the Chinese delegation stayed. Li Xiaoqiang responded to reporter Zhang Da while getting dressed and went out. When he walked to the Japanese Chess Academy, Li Xiaoqiang said to reporter Zhang Da:

"When I came to Japan this time, how did I feel that the atmosphere of the Japanese Chess Academy was a little different from the past, everyone seemed to be very excited, what is the situation?"

"Otherwise, what do you think ......" Regarding Li Xiaoqiang's question, reporter Zhang Da explained with a smile: "This change in the Japanese Chess Academy is of course related to the semi-finals of the Fujitsu Cup that has just ended. Although Japanese chess players emphasize individualism, as long as they are human, there will always be a sense of collective honor. Therefore, I think the atmosphere of the Japanese chess academy is normal right now. ”

Li Xiaoqiang listened to it. I think reporter Zhang Da's words should be a little reasonable. When was the last time a Japanese chess player won the world championship? It was in '92 that Hero Otake won the "Fujitsu Cup" championship that year.

Since that tournament, Japanese players have won championships in the following years, and even reached the finals very rarely. Especially from 94 to 96, Japanese Go watched China and South Korea take turns to sit in the international arena, but Japan, as an old Go powerhouse, has been able to only play soy sauce, of course, it is not a taste in my heart.

After this year, the situation seems to have finally improved. In front, Satoru Kobayashi reached the final of the "Toyo Securities Cup". Although he failed to win the championship in the end, the score was still very ugly 0-3, but even Cao Yanzi, who won the championship in the end, said something like this: "Judging from the content of chess." It should be 0-3 for him to ......."

In this "Fujitsu Cup", they simply won the championship and runner-up. In the face of the best results in so many years, it is no wonder that everyone is excited.

"Hehe, now I just don't know if they are returning to the glory this year, or if they are reinvigorated, Xiaoqiang, what do you think?"

"It's not enough to talk about rejuvenation, but it doesn't seem appropriate to say that it's going back to the light. At present, there are still some players in the Japanese chess world who are very competitive. For example, he ......"

"Who are you talking about?"

"The one who is playing."

"Oh? Why are you so optimistic about Mr. Wang Licheng......"

Regarding reporter Zhang Da's question, Li Xiaoqiang smiled and said nothing. Make an unfathomable gesture. Of course, Li Xiaoqiang didn't really want to be a god stick, but at this time, he seemed to have to pretend to be a god stick.

Indeed, if Li Xiaoqiang is not a reborn. In fact, he couldn't find any reason to be optimistic about Mr. Wang Licheng.

In recent years, Mr. Wang Licheng has been relatively active in the Japanese chess world, but he is only "active", and he is far from the standard of "excellent". What's more, he is older than Ita Kiki. It is difficult to be favored by such an adult chess player who is too old and does not seem to be particularly talented in Go.

But only a reborn like Li Xiaoqiang knows, in real history. After 97 years until Li Xiaoqiang's rebirth, how many world championships did Japanese chess players win? In total, there are only 4 of them. Among them, Zhao Zhixun is one and Zhang Xu is one. And the other two championships were won by Wang Licheng!

Counting Wang Licheng's ability to reach the finals of the World Series since 92 and the finals of the World Series again this year, many people did not expect that the Japanese chess player with the best record and the most stable record in the international arena is Mr. Wang Licheng, who usually does not show mountains and waters. Therefore, Li Xiaoqiang said at this time that "Mr. Wang Licheng is very competitive in the international arena", and it should be said that this evaluation is not too much at all.

"Since you think Wang Licheng is very competitive, let's take a look at today's chess and see where his competitiveness is......"

When Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Daji arrived at the on-site research room, the competition between Li Shifo and Wang Licheng had been going on for a while. After watching the process of the game, Li Xiaoqiang smiled, because he felt that Mr. Wang Licheng really gave face, and in today's game, he really reflected his competitiveness.

"Reporter Zhang, you see, I said that Mr. Wang Licheng is great, he is great. I look at today's game of chess, Li Shifo is very likely to kneel. ”

"Oh? Why do you think so......"

Before reporters Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Da came to the research room, there were actually many Japanese chess players here. Now hearing that Li Xiaoqiang began to comment on the chess game, including Mr. Lin Haifeng, and even Li Xiaoqiang's opponent in the afternoon, Kobayashi Koji and others surrounded him.

Mr. Lin Haifeng said to Li Xiaoqiang with a smile: "There are only dozens of chess moves now, we all think that the current situation is still early, right?" Although Licheng said that he played well, the current situation on the chessboard did not open the gap, and his opponent was Li Shifo. Xiaoqiang, why are you optimistic about Licheng now? “

"Feeling! I'm just feeling it......" Li Xiaoqiang smiled and greeted everyone before continuing to explain:

"Today's chess is considered to have come to Mr. Wang Licheng's path, and as far as I know, Li Shifo should be most afraid of this way, so I think it is very likely that he will kneel."

"Huh? That Xiaoqiang, what kind of way do you think Li Shifo is most afraid of? ”

"This ......"

Li Xiaoqiang suddenly found that he couldn't explain it again. In Li Xiaoqiang's mind, Li Shifo's most feared chess move is, of course, the chess style of the junior chess player Cui Poison, who tightly entangles Li Shifo like a poisonous snake, so that he can't exert his best "control flow". Today's game of chess seems to have taken this path.

But now Cui Poison is just a child, the so-called "Li Shifo Buster", and now everyone still thinks it is Yitian Jiji. Therefore, Li Xiaoqiang can't explain it now.

"Anyway, let's keep watching, after reading it, everyone may be clear......"

At this time, Li Xiaoqiang could only say this vaguely.

Li Xiaoqiang couldn't explain, and Lin Haifeng and others didn't continue to ask. However, the process of today's actual combat confirmed Li Xiaoqiang's words. At least to other onlookers, this seems to be the case.

In today's game of chess, Mr. Wang Licheng was very open, and he gave full play to his characteristics of "the hero of the chaotic war". On the other hand, Li Shifo's performance was not satisfactory, just after 150 hands, Li Shifo's defeat was already very strong. 180 hands, when Mr. Wang Licheng was almost decided, Mr. Lin Haifeng exclaimed:

"It's true that only true opponents know you best. Xiao Qiang is really the person who knows Li Shifo best,"

Mr. Lin Haifeng was praising Li Xiaoqiang, but the reporter Zhang Da next to him said strangely:

"Xiaoqiang, since you think Li Shifo's weakness is here, why is it rare for you to use this method against him in the game between you and him?"

Listening to reporter Zhang Da's question, Li Xiaoqiang smiled bitterly: "Yes, many people know that Mr. Wu Qingyuan's chess is very thin, but they don't see anyone who can take advantage of his weakness." You know, in Go, "knowing weaknesses" and "exploiting weaknesses" are two completely different things......"

Of course, Li Xiaoqiang didn't think about using this method to deal with Li Shifo. For example, when he fought Li Shifo for the first time many years ago, Li Xiaoqiang actually had this idea. As a result, the effect of using it was not good, and after losing that game, Li Xiaoqiang completely gave up this idea.

Cui Poison's method is, in the final analysis, a kind of "one tendon" method. Li Xiaoqiang thinks that he is not the kind of person who has "one tendon", so he may not be able to use this method well. If you forcibly use this method, you may lose your own advantages and characteristics, and the gains outweigh the losses.

Therefore, Li Xiaoqiang later thought that if he wanted to fight with Li Shifo for a long time, instead of using this targeted method, it was better to find a way to improve his skills. Sticking to the principle of self and strengthening one's own strengths and characteristics should be the real king.

When Li Xiaoqiang accidentally pretended to be a magic stick again. At the end of the first semi-final of this "Asian Cup", Mr. Wang Licheng reached the final of an international competition again after the "Fujitsu Cup". As for Li Shifo, he has continued to achieve nothing on the international stage so far this year.

In the afternoon, it was the match between Li Xiaoqiang and Kobayashi Koji. Before entering the game room, reporter Zhang Da said to Li Xiaoqiang in a joking tone:

"Li Shifo is the "control flow", Kobayashi Koji is also the "control flow", Wang Licheng used his method to win Li Shifo, I want to see what method you will use to deal with Xiaolin? ”

Li Xiaoqiang smiled:

"Then you can take a good look."

After saying this, Li Xiaoqiang walked into the game room. (To be continued.) )