In the spring of 1998, there was only one major event in the entire world chess world, and that was the upcoming "Shuangli Duel".

From the day of the final between Li Xiaoqiang and Li Shifo, this is destined to be the most important and eye-catching thing in the world chess world at present. Countless chess fans are talking about this upcoming match, and the media is flooded with articles of analysis and predictions about this match. Many professional chess players are also holding their breath, ready to enjoy the pinnacle matchups that represent the highest level of professional Go today.

In fact, since the beginning of 98 years, there have been some new changes within the three Go powers of China, Japan and South Korea:

In China, Ma Xiaofei, the king of the world chess world in 95 years, has clearly shown signs of recovery this year after a downturn last year. Starting with the defending title "The Celebrity," he performed well in his first domestic title fight of the year, Tian Yuan Zhan. Just when everyone was talking about Chang Rensheng and others starting to "seize power", Ma Xiaofei launched a strong counterattack, and he defeated Luo Shenzhu, Zhou Dayang, Chang Rensheng and others all the way, and quietly won the right to challenge the "Tianyuan War". Although a mere right to challenge is nothing to Ma Xiaofei, it also allows everyone to see that his state has improved significantly.

In Japan, the "enthronement of the crown prince" is the most talked about thing in their country at present. Ida Kiki, who has been the "old prince" for more than 10 years, seems to have finally achieved positive results this year, and he won the title of "celebrity" in Japan. In the tug-of-war between the Mesozoic and the "Six Supers" in Japan, the Mesozoic began to gain the upper hand, and Ida Kiki seized a very important beachhead.

In South Korea, in the qualifiers for many chess battles, many people are talking about the story of "Asuka Island Boy". A young chess player named Lee Seok is on a winning streak, and he is making a splash in the lower divisions of South Korea.

But no matter what new changes are made, no matter what stories happen, they can't compare to the upcoming "Double Li Showdown".

"Throughout the twentieth century, there have been many wonderful chess games in the Go world, and there have been countless exciting matchups, but among them, there are not many chess games that can be called "the battle of the century". But the upcoming "Shuangli Showdown", no matter from any point of view, should be worthy of being called the battle of the century, right? The importance of this match cannot be overstated, and the result of this game is destined to have far-reaching consequences. This game is likely to be the last battle of the century in the entire Go world in the twentieth century......"

That's right, "the last battle of the century of the twentieth century"! That's how everyone positions this game.

And this much-anticipated showdown is coming soon.

One day in early March 1998, reporter Zhang Da came to the China Chess Academy, and he pushed open the door of Li Xiaoqiang's dormitory:

"Xiaoqiang, are you ready?"

Li Xiaoqiang responded with a smile: "I've been a little impatient for a long time." ”

Although the final of the "Toyo Securities Cup" can be said to have an extraordinary impact, it is of great significance and the specifications are very high. But this time I went to South Korea to participate in the first two games, and the Chinese Chess Academy still did not make a move. The composition of the Chinese delegation is still the "traditional trio" of Coach Luo, Li Xiaoqiang and reporter Zhang Da.

If the only difference may be that the attention to this final was too high, there were several more Chinese reporters who accompanied him to South Korea this time than before.

They are all mixed in the Go circle, and Li Xiaoqiang is familiar with most of the senior reporters in the circle. And the most famous of these may be Zhang Xiaoyong and Zhang reporters of the "Go World" magazine.

With the same surname Zhang and the same amateur 6-dan level, Zhang Xiaoyong, like reporter Zhang Da, is a very good reporter in the domestic Go world. In his previous life, Li Xiaoqiang read countless chess reviews and viewing notes written by Zhang Xiaoyong. However, at this time, Zhang Xiaoyong was just starting out, he was still a little young, and he was far from the demeanor of the chief reporter of the "Go World" magazine in later generations.

After arriving in Korea, everyone was busy with what they needed to do. Several Chinese reporters were chatting around Mr. Li. Zhang Xiaoyong spoke first: "Li Jiuduan, may I ask what preparations you made for this final during the Spring Festival?" ”

“……”

In the face of Zhang Xiaoyong's such a serious and decent question, not only Li Xiaoqiang was a little unaccustomed, but even Zhang Da reporter couldn't stand it, he glanced at Zhang Xiaoyong and changed his way of speaking:

"Xiaoqiang, just tell everyone, what are you mainly doing during the Spring Festival."

Well, reporter Zhang Da's way of questioning Li Xiaoqiang is still very accustomed, he looked up and said to the reporters with a smile:

"Well, I haven't done anything else during this time, I'm just thinking about one problem."

"Oh? What are you thinking? ”

"I was just thinking...... Do you remember what Li Shifo said at the end of the semi-finals? He said he was able to beat me now, so I kept thinking, why does he think that? Why does he think he's able to beat me now? ”

Li Xiaoqiang's answer made Zhang Xiaoyong and the others speechless for a while. Please, this is what everyone thinks of as the "Battle of the Century", less than 2 months of preparation time is precious. If you don't play your opponent's game well during this time, and don't prepare your game strategy well, you are thinking about this kind of messy problem?

Among them, reporter Zhang Da knows Li Xiaoqiang better, he doesn't think that Li Xiaoqiang is out of tune, because he knows that Li Xiaoqiang has never been out of tune.

"Is this important?"

"Yes, this question is very important, and I even think that it is likely to be a very important factor, even the most crucial factor, in determining the outcome of this five-game game."

"Oh?" Reporter Zhang Da was thoughtful, he did not ask why, but asked:

"So have you figured it out during this time?"

Li Xiaoqiang smiled bitterly: "Although I vaguely feel a little bit, in fact, I haven't completely figured it out." ”

"Oh?" Reporter Zhang Da said "oh" again, and at the same time, his face changed slightly:

"You didn't figure out what you thought was the most important question...... So what now? ”

"So what else can I do? In short, let's take one step at a time. Now I can only hope for tomorrow and hopefully in the first set tomorrow, I can see the problem. I now have a feeling that the sooner I figure this out, the better my hopes of winning this time. If...... If I haven't figured it out, it's ......"

Saying this, Li Xiaoqiang didn't continue, he saw that it was getting late, and said goodbye to the reporters and went back to his room to rest.

The conversation between Li Xiaoqiang and reporter Zhang Da left others confused. After Li Xiaoqiang left, Zhang Xiaoyong asked reporter Zhang Da: "You guys, what were you talking about just now?" ”

Reporter Zhang Da glanced at his "juniors": "Didn't you hear it just now?" We are talking about the key factors that will determine the outcome of this competition. ”

"This and this...... Li Jiuduan...... Xiaoqiang, he's always talked like this? ”

Reporter Zhang Da continued to put on a posture of a senior: "Where, the current Xiaoqiang...... It's much stronger than before. ”

"What...... What do you mean? ”

"You still don't understand what that means?" Reporter Zhang Da made a contemptuous gesture: "I mean, if this was Xiaoqiang in the past, he sometimes spoke more vigorously than now." ”

"This ......" Zhang Xiaoyong finally asked the most critical question: "Then did you understand what he meant just now?" ”

"Of course......" Facing the expectant eyes of Zhang Xiaoyong and others, reporter Zhang Da made a turn of words: "Of course I didn't understand." ”

However, after saying this, reporter Zhang Da didn't blush at all, but his eyes were bright:

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand, we can read it. I'll tell you the truth, years of experience tell me that Xiaoqiang never talks nonsense in this regard, so we must watch the first game tomorrow carefully. I even have a hunch now that something extraordinary will happen tomorrow......"

Is reporter Zhang Da's hunch correct?

One day in early March 1998, the first game of the high-profile 9th "Toyo Securities Cup" World Professional Go Championship Five-way Chess Finals, Li Xiaoqiang VS Li Shifo, officially started.

This game of chess is Li Xiaoqiang's black first. In the morning game, the two sides fell smoothly, and the situation was also ordinary. At this time, neither Li Xiaoqiang nor reporter Zhang Da, who was watching the battle, noticed anything unusual.

When the game was going on at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, that is, 3 hours after the start of the game, Li Xiaoqiang had a vague feeling of strangeness, but it was still relatively vague.

And reporter Zhang Da and others, naturally, still can't see anything.

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a question in Li Xiaoqiang's heart landed: Li Xiaoqiang already had a clear answer to the question of why Li Shifo dared to say that he could win himself. However, now Li Xiaoqiang has no time to think about this problem, he must focus all his thoughts on the current chess game.

At this time, reporter Zhang Da and others still didn't see anything. But in addition to them, there are also people who are already vaguely aware of the abnormality. For example, Cao Yanzi, who is in charge of the hanging commentary of this game of chess today.

By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, reporter Zhang Da was still unclear, but the eyes of Zhang Xiaoyong and others looking at him were already full of admiration: because the "unusual thing" in the mouth of reporter Zhang Da seemed to have really happened.

Dragon Slayer! Today's first set could be a dragon slaying game!

What's more, today is not Li Xiaoqiang's dragon slaughtering others. On today's chessboard, Li Xiaoqiang and a big dragon are being chased and killed by Li Shifo. That's what makes the difference!

It was also about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and Cao Yanzi began to explain the listing in South Korea. Maybe it's because I've seen the previous process, Lao Cao's opening remarks today are very interesting:

“…… I don't think I need to introduce these two players today. China's Li Xiaoqiang can be considered to be the first person in the world chess arena. Although I don't want to admit it in my heart, this status of people is not blown out, but people really hit it, so there is nothing to say. As for our Li Shifo, his results last year were not ideal, saying that he is currently No. 2 in the world, I'm afraid Chang Hyuk will not agree. But the most interesting thing about this competition is that in the current world chess world, only Li Shifo can pose the biggest threat to Li Xiaoqiang, which is why this final is called the battle of the century......"

“…… Many people say that if Li Shifo wants to defeat Li Xiaoqiang, he must put the chess game into the track he is good at, and he must drag Li Xiaoqiang into an official duel, thinking that only this is the best way. But to tell you the truth, I don't agree with this approach in my heart, not to mention that Li Xiaoqiang's official kung fu is also super strong, and with his skills, it is impossible for you to fight with him in every game of chess. And to be honest, if Li Shifo wants to really surpass Li Xiaoqiang, he can't only make a fuss about officials forever......"

“…… In the face of Li Xiaoqiang, if there is only one strength of the official, then Li Shifo will never be the first in the world! ……”

“…… What makes me very happy today is that Shi Buddha seems to be aware of this himself, all of his other strengths, a strength that everyone has overlooked......"

“…… That's his power! ”

In Lao Cao's talking, the first game of the 9th "Toyo Securities Cup" World Professional Go Championship Wuban Chess Finals is continuing step by step. (To be continued.) )