When Li Xiaoqiang threw out his carefully concocted "Cao Yanzi Album", he continued to sing and advance in the arena of "Tianyuan War". If you really want to say it, the adjective "soaring" is actually inappropriate. He just defeated his opponent again in the round of 8 and successfully advanced to the top 4.

Of course, due to his opponent's early mistakes, he won this game relatively easily. And it is the first of the 4 games to finish. It is for this reason that the current Li Xiaoqiang really gives people a feeling of being unstoppable. For example, the "Shencheng Evening News", in this newspaper, is still very enthusiastic about the coverage of Go events. Among them, the main contributor is, of course, reporter Zhang Da.

Reporter Zhang Da is also thick-skinned, and he can't see anything at all, and the tendency of the article is particularly obvious. is a good "Tianyuan Competition", which was almost turned into "Li Xiaoqiang's album" by him.

Li Xiaoqiang passed the first round and "continued his current good form". Passing the second round is "continue to soar". This has just passed the third round - the title of Zhang Da's article has already been decided:

"Li Xiaoqiang is already unstoppable......"

In the match hall, Li Xiaoqiang was there, quietly watching another game. Due to the early end of his own match, the other three sets were not over after he and his opponent resumed. Li Xiaoqiang is now watching this game of chess, and the winner will be his opponent in the next round. Of course, Li Xiaoqiang didn't watch the battle seriously because of this.

Because this game of chess is really the most interesting and interesting game of chess in the top 8 battle. This game of chess is Nie Whirlwind VS Jiang Zhujiu.

These two players were the main contributors to the first tournament. Needless to say, Nie Whirlwind, Jiang Zhujiu has been improving rapidly and steadily since the first ring competition. In these years, he has not won a major race, though. However, in any competition, he can be sure to break into the top few. The competitive form is quite stable. Firmly ranked among the "Five Tiger Generals" of Chinese Go.

"Xiaoqiang. If nothing else, your opponent in the next round should be Nie Whirlwind. Am I right? ”

"Hehe, you underestimate Jiang Xiaoer too much, I see, this game of chess Teacher Nie is enough to hang. Whether he can win or not depends mainly on whether he will be distracted later. ”

Before Li Xiaoqiang finished reading his chess, a staff member came over to inform Li Xiaoqiang. said that it was Team Leader Hua, Coach Luo, and they "had something to do with you". Since it was "the leader looking for a conversation", of course he had to rush over at the first time. On the way out of the arena, Zhang Zhidong and Li Xiaoqiang had a chat without a match.

If the time is postponed by more than 10 years, Li Xiaoqiang dares to say that people are "two". That's definitely an insult. But now that he calls Jiang Zhujiu like this, no one has an opinion. His title of "Jiang Xiaoer" actually has a history. First of all, because Jiang Zhujiu is ranked second in the family, and his brother is also a professional chess player. But that's not all. The origin of this title actually starts with the 1st Ring Competition.

In the first ring competition, Jiang Zhujiu recorded 5 consecutive victories. And the most critical and important of them. Of course, it should be his first win. His win over Japan's Noriki Ita was not only his first personal win. In fact, it was also the first set victory of the Chinese team.

Everyone knows that Mr. Yitian Kiki is called "Yitian Tiger" by Chinese chess fans. After Jiang Zhujiu beheaded Yitian off the horse, some media at that time called him a "tiger hero". This should be all clear, right? In China. Who is the most famous "Tiger Fighting Hero"? That, of course, is Wu Song Wujiro who "three bowls are not enough" in the Water Margin.

The origin of "Jiang Xiaoer" is actually this meaning.

Jiang Zhujiu's chess style, like his people, is also very strong. Someone once described his chess style like this: "The average person is the opponent who slashes with a knife and dodges or parries first." And then fight back. And Jiang Zhujiu was slashed by you, he didn't dodge and parry, but also slashed with a knife. than. It's whose knife is fast and whose nerves are strong! ”

Li Xiaoqiang believes that such a description is still very vivid and appropriate.

"I said Xiaoqiang, you just want to disagree with me, right? So many masters unanimously agreed that at this time, Lao Nie's situation had a clear upper hand. Why do you think he's winning enough to hang the ball? You have to give your reasons. ”

"Haha, it's the same game of chess, what I see, of course, is not what a low-handed like you can see. You may not have noticed, before we left, Teacher Jiang had been playing tricks on Teacher Nie...... Well, so far, I don't think Teacher Nie is aware of it......"

"Oh, and that like that?"

"Of course, who am I, Li Xiaoqiang? My favorite thing to do is to set up tricks on people...... Well, it's only on the board. This trap of his still has to start with Mr. Nie's step of "flying supplement......"

Li Xiaoqiang's "flying supplement" is actually the way of "making up the breakpoint" in Go. The so-called "chess is born from the break", then on the contrary, the "complement of the decision" in Go is also very necessary, and it is also very particular. The best way to "make up" is to find a balance between "clean" and "efficient". It doesn't matter if the various "complements" are good or bad, you can only choose one according to the situation on the board.

For example, this game. Since the "patching" of the Nie Whirlwind occurs in the prologue stage. With no problems around him for the time being, he chose a more efficient "flying supplement". Of course, this is the case with Go, if you are efficient, then you have to be thinner. In other words, there may be a flaw in the "chess shape". Of course, such a flaw is very small, and in the vast majority of cases, it takes a lot of preparation to catch it. The so-called "aiming at the opponent's weakness in such and such a place" roughly means this.

When Li Xiaoqiang was watching chess, he found that Jiang Zhujiu's later series of moves were all normal on the surface. But judging from his many local plays, he is "aiming at the weakness of the opponent's flying supplement". Therefore, Li Xiaoqiang will say: "He is playing tricks with Nie Whirlwind." What's more, judging from Nie Whirlwind's series of responses, Li Xiaoqiang really didn't seem to pay attention to that small flaw.

Normally, a master player is often particularly sensitive to weaknesses in the form. If you have a flaw, you will find a way to make up for it. This is even more true of a top master like Nie Whirlwind. Their flaws are not so easy to catch. Now even Li Xiaoqiang can discover Nie Whirlwind's flaws, but he himself is not aware of it. Of course, this does not mean that Li Xiaoqiang's level is already higher than others. This really only says one thing. Nie Whirlwind was not committed enough in this set.

In such an era, Nie Xuanfeng's attitude towards domestic and international competitions is different. Many people don't understand this and think that isn't it just a matter of playing a few games of chess? Isn't it a bit pretentious to say such a thing? Actually, this is not the case, such a continuous battle, if he devotes himself to every game of chess. The strength is also very large, and his body can't bear it at all. Mr. Lin Haifeng once said that he finished every "two-day" game. I have to lose several pounds. As a professional chess player, Nie Whirlwind certainly wants to win every game of chess, but in dealing with different chess games, the physical strength and energy he invests are still different.

This can also be seen from his results in recent years. His results in international competitions are often much better than his results in domestic competitions.

If you can't put your heart and soul into it, you won't have the same sense of chess. Either it is easy to "slow down", or it is "paralyzed careless". What Li Xiaoqiang discovered today may be the second situation.

"Haha. Seeing how well you analyze it, it sounds like that. But I don't know if it's true or not. I don't understand, how do you know all this? ”

"Hey, that's the gap between us, you know? Everybody plays chess. In fact, they all have their own thoughts, or rather, they all have their own personalities. Ordinary people like you, of course, can only see their moves. And I, Li Datian, is different. I'm in their tricks. To be able to see their personalities and to be able to see a lot of hidden things......"

Reporter Zhang Da carefully looked at Li Xiaoqiang, who was boasting about himself. At this moment, he felt a little speechless. He decided to give up the argument with Li Xiaoqiang. He even stretched out a thumbs up and gestured in front of Li Xiaoqiang:

"You cow, you cow ......"

"Ahem......"

Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Zhidong continued to walk forward. After that, the two never spoke again, and were silent all the way. Li Xiaoqiang even thought crankily there:

Well, it seems that the term "you cow, you cow" is still very popular in the Chinese Go world. No, what Nie Whirlwind said to "Chen Xiaoqiang" in the future was said in advance by your reporter Zhang Da, and what is even more excessive is that he actually applied such a sentence to another "Xiaoqiang". It's really ......."

When Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Zhidong arrived at the ground, they found that Team Leader Hua and Coach Luo were waiting there.

"Hello Er, do you have anything to do with me?"

"Hehe, our "Li Da Celebrity" is here. Yes, yes, this Tianyuan Tournament also played very well. But you can't be proud of it, you have to keep trying......"

Li Xiaoqiang knew in his heart that these Go seniors could use the adjective "doting" for their own generation of chess players. Since it is the love of the elders for the younger generations. We Chinese, the elders must also nag a few words. Li Xiaoqiang patiently listened to Coach Luo's "nagging". Finally got to the point.

"Hehe, we called you over, in fact, we want to officially inform you that after this "Tianyuan Competition" is over, there is still a "Selection Competition" waiting for you. You have to be prepared. ”

"Tryouts?"

"That's right, the qualifiers, the 2nd Fujitsu Cup qualifiers! This competition is as strong as a forest, and to some extent, it is even more difficult to play than this "Tianyuan Competition". I hope you will cherish this opportunity. Fight for a chance to compete in the World Series. ”

"Oh!"

After hearing the news, Li Xiaoqiang finally put away his hippie smile. He knows that at this stage, he most wants to participate in the competition, or in other words, his second step "career plan". It's finally coming!

Li Xiaoqiang knows the trend of the world chess world in the future. In later generations, there was only the world professional Go competition. It's the stage that a professional chess player dreams of. Only by proving yourself on such a stage can you explain your "status in the rivers and lakes".

It's like the world of professional tennis, where there are so many professional tournaments every year. If you haven't won a single of the four Grand Slams, no matter how high your provisional ranking is, it won't tell you anything. The "status of the rivers and lakes" is not much higher.

Li Xiaoqiang knows that according to his current level of Go. Although it is said that it already has a certain "impact", if you want to win the world championship. My own background and skills are still not enough. It still takes a long time to hone and precipitate before it is possible to reach that level and level.

Li Xiaoqiang knows deeply. In Go, talent alone is useless, and hard work alone is not enough. It also takes some chance and luck. Let's compare myself to Chang Rensheng. Is your Go talent higher than others? Maybe others will think so, but Li Xiaoqiang will not think so. The gap between myself and Chang Rensheng is the gap between the starting point and the gap of opportunities.

Three years ago, because his "starting point" was higher than his, this also allowed him to have more opportunities to compete. It is also through the training of these high-level competitions that he has maintained the gap between himself and Chang Rensheng. The so-called "one step ahead, step by step ahead". That's roughly the case at the moment.

When Li Xiaoqiang won this "celebrity" crown. He believes that his first step of "career planning" should be basically completed. So what about step 2? Of course, it was trying to get the chance to compete in the World Series. Forget about winning the championship just yet, you have to qualify to participate in the World Series. If you sharpen yourself in that atmosphere, you will eventually be able to succeed.

Therefore, in Li Xiaoqiang's mind, he attaches more importance to this "selection competition" than even the "Tianyuan Competition" that is still going on.

Coach Luo is right, for such a "selection competition", it may really be more difficult than the "Tianyuan competition". For example, the second Fujitsu Cup, which will be held soon, will have five quota places allocated to China. Among them, "Nie Ma Shuangxiong" is exempt from selection and belongs to the "designated participant" contestants. In this way, there will be 3 places for the selection of qualified personnel. Among them, Nie Whirlwind won the third place in the last competition. As a result, he was given an exemption from the election. So. Ma Xiaofei was exempted from the election as a "national seed".

Let's not talk about the issue of "exemption from selection", even if this qualification to participate in the "selection competition" is actually not so easy to obtain. For example, this year's qualifications, first. Member of the national team. Second, the top 6 in the national Go individual competition. Thirdly, the champions of other types of "news chess battles".

Li Xiaoqiang has no two conditions in front of him. He relied on the champion of this "celebrity battle" to obtain this selection qualification. What's more, such a competition, although it is not an official professional competition, is not reported in the major media at all. But the difficulty of qualifying is not ordinary. Because this competition adopts a "double round-robin system".

For example, if 10 players qualify, each player has to play 2 games with the others, and a total of 18 games will have to be played before the final seat can be ranked, and the top 3 players will be eligible for the qualifiers. To be honest, this kind of "league"-like competition system is not good for Li Xiaoqiang.

Let's take football, for example. As we all know, the weight of a "league champion" is definitely heavier than that of a "cup champion". Because only the league can best reflect the skill and heritage of a team. The game of Go is actually the same. Li Xiaoqiang can win the title of "celebrity", of course, because he already has a high impact. But it is also necessary to objectively admit that according to Li Xiaoqiang's current level and characteristics, he is actually better at the "encounter" in the next knockout system. In that kind of competition, Li Xiaoqiang is more likely to get good results. And the kind of "double round-robin format" that is completely hard-hitting. It will minimize all kinds of contingencies.

In real history, Ma Xiaofei was not able to participate in the 3rd "Fujitsu Cup". Due to the fact that in the 2nd tournament, the Chinese chess players did not get the top 3. As a result, only four quota places have been allocated to China. In this way, the identity of the "national seed" was given to Nie Whirlwind. Even Ma Xiaofei also needs to participate in the selection. By the time of the next competition, the selection system had also been reformed. The national Go individual tournament is directly regarded as the "selection competition" of the "Fujitsu Cup". The champion and runner-up of this competition will represent China in the World Series. There is still one last qualifying spot, and there will still be such an internal selection competition. Ma Xiaofei just failed to qualify in the trials. He missed out on his only chance to compete in the World Series. Otherwise, in the "Fujitsu Cup" in the early years, he would have hoped to maintain "full attendance".

"Hehe, I said Xiaoqiang, you are really a bit of a god. The result of this game is really unfortunate for you! In this way, your opponent in the semifinals of the "Tian Yuan War". It's Jiang Xiaoer, the former hero of the ring......"

When Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Zhidong returned to the arena. The other three games of the round of 8 are over. After seeing the results of other games, Zhang Zhidong squeezed his eyebrows and whispered to Li Xiaoqiang.

Li Xiaoqiang observed, except for himself and Jiang Zhujiu. The other two players made it to the top 4. It is also a first-class powerhouse in China at present. They are Ma Xiaofei Jiuduan and Qian Yuping Jiuduan.

Now everyone knows that when the game reaches this stage, whoever wants to win any game easily is not an easy thing to do.

Li Xiaoqiang silently calculated in his heart, it is now January 89. The Fujitsu Cup will be held in early April every year. That is, in the next 2 months. Li Xiaoqiang will have more than 10 sets to play. And the opponent of each game of chess. In fact, they are all players of this level.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaoqiang was slightly looking forward to it, and at the same time a little scrappy:

"Let these opponents with different styles help me improve and hone my Go skills......" (To be continued......