This year is the Olympic year, and the "Yingshi Cup", known as the "Go Olympics", was supposed to start this year. However, until now, there has been no sign of the 3rd "Yingshi Cup" starting. There are even rumors circulating that the "Ying's Cup" may be suspended.

The reason for this is very simple, because Mr. Ying is currently critically ill.

The "Ying's Cup" is a privately held Go tournament. Whether this competition can continue or not can be said to depend entirely on people's personal wishes. Mr. Ying is a super chess fan, and everyone knows it. But what about his successor? Is his successor willing to spend such a large amount of money to hold a Go tournament? At this time, not many people knew. Therefore, at this juncture, some people are worried that the "Yingshi Cup" may be suspended, and such speculation is completely understandable.

Others are worried, but Li Xiaoqiang will not have any worries. In fact, Li Xiaoqiang knew the news earlier than most people, and at the time of the 2nd "Ying's Cup", there was no boycott of Chinese chess players, and Li Xiaoqiang made a great effort. Since that time, Li Xiaoqiang has not only been familiar with Mr. Ying, but also dealt with Mr. Xiaoying many times.

Mr. Xiao Ying may not be a super chess fan like Mr. Ying, but Mr. Xiao Ying is a filial son, and in this case, it is impossible for him to go against his father's wishes.

In Shencheng Yingshi Building, this building is located near the Bund in Shencheng. Li Xiaoqiang talked with Mr. Xiaoying, and he said that not only will the "Ying's Cup" not be stopped, but he is even preparing to hold an additional "Advocate Chess Cup" in China. Chess advocates advocate Go also, and at the same time, this name is also a homonym for Mr. Ying's name. As for the daily arrangement of the "Ying's Cup", due to Mr. Ying's current situation, it is no longer possible to start the competition immediately, and the first few rounds of competition can be held at the end of the year, but the champion must be determined. Then you have to wait until next year.

"Not only Ying's Cup, Xiaoqiang You know, because Li Shifo won two world championships in a row this year, South Korea's enthusiasm for hosting the world championship is high. The last time I was chatting with Park, he told me that the South Korean side seems to be brewing a new world competition, and it is said that it will also appear at the end of the year. ”

"Oh?"

Due to the age, Li Xiaoqiang does not remember the specific founding time of some competitions very clearly. But in terms of time. In 96 and 97, the new world series should be the famous "Samsung Cup". The reason why Li Xiaoqiang can remember this is because he was deeply impressed by the first "Samsung Cup" final in real history.

When the first "Samsung Cup" was first established, it was claimed that the championship prize money was the same as that of the "Ying's Cup", which was nearly 400,000 US dollars.

The first "Samsung Cup" and the third "Yingshi Cup" were held at about the same time. Coincidentally, the finals of both tournaments were played between the same two players, Yoo Chang-hyuk and Yoo Tian Ki-ki. The finals of the two competitions were almost next to each other, so the media at that time nicknamed the duel between Liu Changhyuk and Yitian Kiki as the "$800,000 big carve-up". The result of the match was that the two won one crown. Kiki Ita won the first "Samsung Cup". Liu Changhe lifted the trophy of the 3rd "Ying's Cup".

The two said that they were talking about dividing up $800,000, but in fact, if you want to study it carefully, it is still Yitian Jiji who suffers a little. Because when he won the first "Samsung Cup", the time had reached the end of 97. At that time, just in time for the Southeast Asian financial crisis, South Korea was also seriously impacted, and the Korean won depreciated sharply. Naturally, it has also shrunk severely.

"Xiaoqiang, there are so many competitions at the end of this year. You have to take advantage of the opportunity this time. ”

After chatting for a while about the "Ying's Cup" and South Korea's possible new World Series, reporter Zhang Da said to Li Xiaoqiang. After listening to reporter Zhang Da's words, Li Xiaoqiang smiled slightly and did not open his mouth to respond.

Although Li Xiaoqiang was silent, reporter Zhang Da and Liu Da and Liu Er could still see that the current Li Xiaoqiang was holding back his strength.

Truly. In addition to the "Yingshi Cup" and the possible "Samsung Cup", there will be a new "Toyo Securities Cup" to be played at the end of the year. Li Xiaoqiang has been in the doldrums for too long, especially since the beginning of this year, the darling of the previous Go world and the "treasure" of Chinese Go. But it has been criticized by many chess fans and the media.

Li Xiaoqiang is a little impatient now.

It was September 1996. Li Xiaoqiang's condition seems to be really getting better. He began to win back-to-back games in the domestic arena. From September to October, Li Xiaoqiang participated in the domestic "Chess King Battle" preliminaries and the "Celebrity Battle" round-robin tournament without losing a single game, and maintained a complete victory within 2 months. Approaching the challenge of these two competitions again.

Of course, Li Xiaoqiang's performance in the past two months has not received much attention from the outside world, and even Li Xiaoqiang himself doesn't care. Indeed, for the current Li Xiaoqiang, the domestic arena is still too small, and he can only regain everyone's recognition if he can perform well in the international arena.

To Li Xiaoqiang's surprise, what he aimed at was the three world competitions that would be launched at the end of the year. However, at the end of October, it was another international event that pushed Li Xiaoqiang to the forefront.

One day at the end of October, the Chinese Chess Academy. Chen Wanghualuo and Nie Whirlwind were chatting.

"What? Even Ma Xiaofei lost! He also lost to Seo Bong-so? This and this, isn't Lao Xu now already winning 8 consecutive victories! This is crazy, this is the rhythm of clearing the stage with one shot. He has now cleared the Japanese team's platform, and if we clear the Chinese team's platform again, then the face of Sino-Japanese Go will be a big loss. ”

That's right, they were talking about this year's Three Kingdoms Tournament. The Three Kingdoms Tournament is generally held in 3 stages, and the second stage has just ended. With Xu Bong-su defeating Ma Xiaofei, the Japanese team has now been wiped out, the South Korean team still has Xu Liucao and Li Four Heavenly Kings, and the Chinese team has only Li Xiaoqiang left.

In Chen Chaoyue's office, Wang Lunan smiled bitterly:

"If I had known that this was the result, I would have sent Xiaoqiang to South Korea in the second phase. Xiaoqiang should still be quite sure of Lao Xu's words. And I heard that Lao Xu is usually the most obedient and strong. ”

After listening to Wang Lunan's words, Coach Luo also smiled bitterly:

"Who would have thought that Xu Bongsu would be so crazy at that time, Xiaoqiang was busy playing chess king battles and celebrity battles during this time, while Ma Xiaofei was relatively idle. This time, let Ma Xiaofei lead the team to South Korea, because there are sledgehammers and Cao Da in front, we even think that the probability of Ma Xiaofei going to play is very small. I didn't expect it......"

Due to the special format of the Three Kingdoms Tournament, Li Xiaoqiang inadvertently became the coach of the Chinese team. But Li Xiaoqiang, who served as the coach of the Chinese team for the first time, faced a dangerous situation.

He has to face a state that can only be described as crazy Seo Bong-so. He wants to pick out the "Four Heavenly Kings" of South Korea alone!

Li Xiaoqiang is still in Shencheng, and as soon as he finished a game of the "Celebrity War" round-robin circle that day, reporter Zhang Da hurriedly found Li Xiaoqiang:

"Xiaoqiang, Xiaoqiang, you know the process of the Three Kingdoms Tournament, right? He actually took down Ma Xiaofei...... Well? Looking at your calm face, you seem to have known this result for a long time......"

Li Xiaoqiang's calmness is, of course, because he is more mentally prepared than others. In real history, Seo Bong-so's crazy nine consecutive victories ended a Three Kingdoms Ring Match by himself, which is definitely a miracle. But by the same token, Li Xiaoqiang can remember this event, but what year did it happen? He doesn't remember it very well.

Therefore, when this Three Kingdoms Tournament first started, Li Xiaoqiang didn't care much at first. However, I saw that Seo Bong-so won three in a row, four in a row, especially in the back six consecutive victories and seven consecutive victories. Li Xiaoqiang thought in his heart:

"Is this the time?"

Therefore, at this time, when Xu Bongsu has achieved eight consecutive victories, Li Xiaoqiang's heart is not calm, he is just more mentally prepared than others.

"Hahaha, I think this is your chance. Although Lao Xu's current state is so good that it is bursting, and there is also a momentum after a winning streak. However, in terms of overall strength, he is still slightly inferior to the others. And I heard that he is most afraid of you, and you have already beaten him in the first few games. I think if you take him down this time, I'm afraid that not only us, but also the Japanese Go community will have to thank you......"

"You're right, the Koreans haven't won yet."

Just when reporter Zhang Da was still talking endlessly, helping Li Xiaoqiang analyze how to take down Xu Bongzhu, he suddenly heard Li Xiaoqiang come up with such a sentence.

"Huh? What did you just say? ”

"I mean, the Koreans haven't won yet!"

Reporter Zhang Da looked at Li Xiaoqiang blankly, and didn't know what to say for a while.

Li Xiaoqiang's results in the Three Kingdoms Tournament were not outstanding. He just saved his capital with one win and one loss the year before last, and he simply didn't win a set last year. What's more, the Three Kingdoms Tournament has been held many times this year, and the South Korean team has won all the championships, and they have never let the championship go by. Therefore, in the face of this year's situation, most people think the same as reporter Zhang Da. As long as Li Xiaoqiang can successfully block Xu Fengzhu, it should be said that he can at least successfully maintain the face of Chinese Go, and perhaps even the face of Japanese Go.

But Li Xiaoqiang said now...... The Koreans haven't won yet!

Shencheng, the newspaper where reporter Zhang Da works. The editor-in-chief is talking to reporter Zhang Da with a pleasant face:

"Xiao Zhang, I think the title of this article should be changed to better, what ......do you say?"

Although it is still "Xiao Zhang", the current "Xiao Zhang" is different from the "Xiao Zhang" of previous years. The current reporter Zhang Da is also a famous person, so when the editor-in-chief talks to him, he will now use a consultative tone.

But then again, if reporter Zhang Da usually encounters this situation, the editor-in-chief will still comply. However, today, reporter Zhang Da's attitude is a little abnormal, and he looks at the editor-in-chief with bright eyes:

"No, I don't think it's better to change the title to that one. Because these words are Li Xiaoqiang's original words. I believe he ......"

"The third stage of the Three Kingdoms Tournament is about to start, and Li Xiaoqiang said: The Koreans haven't won yet!"

In November 1996, Li Xiaoqiang seemed to have once again become the focus of attention in the entire world chess world. (To be continued.) )