A little after 4 o'clock in the afternoon, seeing that the chess game could not continue, Yida Kiki chose to admit defeat in the middle game. In this way, Li Xiaoqiang became the first chess player to break into the top 8 of this year's "Ying's Cup".

Li Xiaoqiang breathed a sigh of relief after the victory. Although this is just a matter of entering the top 8, Li Xiaoqiang doesn't think it's much exciting to beat Yitian Jiji. And at the end of the game, Li Xiaoqibing didn't think too much about it like Zhang Da, and he didn't think how well he played this game of chess. In Li Xiaoqiang's own opinion, his game of chess ...... can only be regarded as playing normally, and Yitian's mistakes are just a little easier for him to win.

Despite this, Li Xiaoqiang is still in a happy mood. I've been in the doldrums on the international stage for a long time. Although in the Three Kingdoms Ring Match a few days ago, he was a good one. But you know, it's a team tournament after all, and it's a rapid chess tournament.

Li Xiaoqiang knows very well in his heart that if he wants to compete with other super masters and restore his past glory, then this kind of individual competition is his main battlefield. Although in the coming period, there are several world series waiting for you. But today...... After all, this is the "Ying's Cup", a world competition with the highest prize money for the champion, and it is an opportunity that only comes once every four years. Especially when he just boasted about Haikou, then today's victory is not a good start. This is the main reason why Li Xiaoqiang is happy.

In stark contrast to Li Xiaoqiang's happiness, his opponent, Mr. Yitian Kiki, was extremely depressed. I probably felt that it was a bit embarrassing to lose in this way, and the two did not communicate much after the game, and after a few random changes on the board, the review of the two sides ended hastily. After the two walked out of the game room, Li Xiaoqiang came to the viewing room to watch other matches, while Yitian Kiki quickly disappeared from the arena.

"In today's game, I will teach you a simple way to judge the situation. You don't have to look at anything else, just pay attention to the age of the players. In the remaining 7 games. You only have to see which player is younger, and you can safely judge which one has an advantage now......"

After coming to the viewing room, because he was in a good mood after winning chess, Li Xiaoqiang was joking with a reporter he knew well. Although Li Xiaoqiang's words are a joke, they do point out a reality in the world chess world today. Today's world chess world is indeed in an era of changing dynasties, and those former kings, represented by Japan's "Six Supers" and China's Nie Whirlwind, are indeed gradually aging. The glory they once had, the pride that once belonged only to them. It may never be seen again in the international arena in the future.

Although in any competitive event, metabolism is an eternal law. But in today's "Ying's Cup" round of 16, the feeling is particularly obvious, and even makes people sigh.

Nie Whirlwind participated in this year's "Ying's Cup" as the defending champion, and his opponent today happened to be Li Shifo, who has won two world championships this year. If it was said that 2 years ago, Nie Whirlwind could easily beat Li Shifo with his excellent overall view. Then just two years later, Nie Whirlwind will no longer be able to do this.

Li Xiaoqiang watched the progress of their game, in the first 50 moves. Nie Whirlwind also has obvious advantages. By 80 hands, Nie Whirlwind's advantage disappeared. After 100 hands, Li Shifo gradually reversed. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Li Xiaoqiang came to the viewing room to watch the latest chess games. At this time, the gap between the two sides is already very large. Nie Whirlwind's defeat is now also only a matter of time.

Compared with Nie Whirlwind, the luck of Cao Yanzi, the runner-up of the last year, is good. To say that Cao Yanzi's current age is not too young, he is already past his age. But he's today. I met a chess player who was much older than him, the Japanese Awaji Shukudan.

In the Japanese chess world, Mr. Awaji has a very interesting nickname. He is known as the "muddy stream". But in today's game, Cao Yanzi let the opponent "fall into the quagmire" early. At the moment, the one who is really struggling in the mud happens to be Mr. Awaji himself.

In addition to these two games of chess, Ma Xiaofei played against Dazhu Hero, and Liu Changhe encountered Masaki Takemiya. In these two games, young players also have a clear advantage.

Three years ago, when Otake Hero won the world championship, he eliminated Ma Xiaofei in the semifinals. However, 3 years have passed, and the current Ma Xiaofei is no longer what it used to be. In today's game of chess, Ma Xiaofei's small kung fu was brought into full play. It's entirely conceivable that Mr. Otake, who is currently sitting in the game room, must be miserable right now.

The other game is a similar story. Mr. Takemiya guessed the black chess today, and at the beginning of the game, he sacrificed his famous stunt "Cosmic Flow", but by this time, his big appearance had been beaten into a sieve by Yoo Chang-hyuk......

"Ma Xiao, Lao Cao, Li Shifo, Liu Changhe plus you, so there are already 5 chess players in the top 8. So who will be the remaining 3? Xiaoqiang, you can help me take a look at ......"

At around 5 o'clock in the afternoon, reporter Zhang Da was counting with his fingers. Except for Li Xiaoqiang, who has been confirmed to enter the top 8, there is no suspense in 4 of them, so the remaining 3 games are a little unclear.

Of course, this "can't see clearly" is only relative to amateur chess players like reporter Zhang Da. For a top professional master like Li Xiaoqiang, the situation of the other 3 games of chess is also relatively clear.

"In the other 3 games, the younger players also have the advantage. Lao Zhao vs. Lao Xu...... I remember that Lao Zhao seems to be a little smaller than Lao Xu, right? The situation of this game of chess, don't look at the scene, it seems to be a little chaotic, but Lao Xu is actually holding on. Lao Zhao should not have much problem winning this set. The situation of "Brother Xia" against Wang Licheng is similar, don't look at the two of them killing lively, but it is actually unreasonable for "Brother Xia" to have a move in front of her, and she has actually been fighting hard until now. As for the last set...... Hey!? ”

"What are you talking about, what's wrong with the sledgehammer? Could it be that the situation on the chessboard has been repeated? ”

The last game that Li Xiaoqiang said was Liu Dazhui's match against Mr. Lin Haifeng. Originally, at more than 4 o'clock, Li Xiaoqiang still thought that Liu Dazhui's situation was good. But now......

Li Xiaoqiang once again carefully reviewed the chess game and carefully judged the situation again.

"What's wrong? Isn't it the younger players who have the upper hand this time? ”

Li Xiaoqiang did not answer reporter Zhang Da's question positively, he just sent a sentence of emotion at this time:

"Mr. Lin really doesn't lose the name of "two waists", admire, admire......"

At a little more than 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the round of 16 of this year's "Yingshi Cup" was over, and the final result was basically not unexpected by Li Xiaoqiang. The vast majority of the results ended in the younger player winning.

The only exception to the set was Lin Haifeng's match against Liu Da Hammer. This game is also the last of all 8 games. Mr. Lin Haifeng fought hard to the end, and finally he successfully reversed Liu Dazhui and killed again at the age of 55 in the top 8 of the World Series.

Seeing this scene, Li Xiaoqiang, who was accustomed to being called a "veteran" at the age of 30 in the chess world in later generations, and completely faded out of the front line at the age of 40, could only express deep respect for Mr. Lin Haifeng.

With the victory of Mr. Lin Haifeng, the top 8 lineups of this year's "Ying's Cup" have all been produced. Li Xiaoqiang and Ma Xiaofei in China, Zhao Zhixun, Lin Haifeng and Wang Licheng in Japan, and Cao Yanzi, Liu Changhyuk and Li Shifo in South Korea. It can be said that such a top 8 lineup basically represents the highest level in the world chess today.

In terms of numbers, the Chinese team is slightly at a disadvantage. But it doesn't matter, the elite of the Chinese team is still there, whether it is Li Xiaoqiang or Ma Xiaofei, they are recognized as the top masters in the world chess today. As long as the two of them are alive, then the combat effectiveness of the Chinese team can be underestimated.

There are even many people who feel that compared with the two players of the Chinese team, the Japanese team is a little weaker. Therefore, the trend of this year's 'Ying's Cup' is mainly based on the confrontation between China and South Korea, and the results of Chinese and Korean chess players may determine the final champion.

After all the matches are over, the draw ceremony for the top 8 will be held immediately in the evening.

Since the distribution of the top 8 is 2, 3, 3, then between Li Xiaoqiang and Ma Xiaofei, there must be one player against Japan, and the other against a Korean player. Ma Xiaofei walked on the draw table earlier than Li Xiaoqiang. When he unfolded the small note in his hand, it was Zhao Zhixun. Ma Xiaofei drew a Japanese chess player.

Therefore, when Li Xiaoqiang stepped onto the draw table, he attracted much attention. His gaze swept over Cao Yanzi, Liu Changhyuk and Li Shifo.

Who could it be?

Li Xiaoqiang smiled slightly, he unfolded the small note in his hand, it was Cao Yanzi! Li Xiaoqiang's opponent in the next round is Cao Yanzi!

Seeing Li Xiaoqiang pull Cao Yanzi out, many people at the scene smiled knowingly. As long as the two of them draw a piece, then there will be no shortage of topics for the rest of the game.

In the semi-finals of the last "Ying's Cup", the match between Li Xiaoqiang and Cao Yanzi caused a lot of controversy. It also brought a lot of topics to the Go world. In addition, Li Xiaoqiang had a miraculous reversal in the Three Kingdoms Ring Tournament not long ago. His winning method of "killing three dragons in one robbery" will surely be talked about by everyone for a long time......

In addition to the fact that there will be no shortage of topics. Many people even thought that for the current Li Xiaoqiang, there seems to be no better opponent than Cao Yanzi.

In the "Fujitsu Cup" earlier this year, it was Cao Yanzi who eliminated Li Xiaoqiang. Even if Li Xiaoqiang won the game in the Three Kingdoms Tournament, it can actually be regarded as Cao Yanzi's advantage from beginning to end.

Has Li Xiaoqiang really recovered? Can he really be back on top of the world? At this time, many people believe that Cao Yanzi is undoubtedly the best litmus test.

At the end of 1996, the top 8 of the 3rd "Yingshi Cup" World Professional Go Championship. Li Xiaoqiang and Cao Yanzi's hands were shaken. (To be continued.) )