Just after New Year's Day in 1998, Li Xiaoqiang and Chang Rensheng went to South Korea to participate in the semifinals of the "Toyo Securities Cup".

This is the first fight on the international stage in the new year, this is Chang Rensheng's first time participating in the semifinals of the World Series, and it is also the first time he has officially played against Li Shifo. Li Xiaoqiang could see that Chang Rensheng was a little nervous.

Of course, it may not be accurate to say that nervousness, but a more accurate description should be a little nervousness mixed with excitement, which makes Chang Rensheng look a little restrained.

"It's a pity that this "celebrity battle" lost, what do you think of it, Xiaochang? ”

During the journey, Li Xiaoqiang took the lead in provoking the topic. He is talking about the last battle in the domestic chess world in 97, the "celebrity battle" five-way chess final between Chang Rensheng and Ma Xiaofei. The result of this match ended with Ma Xiaofei defending his title as "celebrity". After winning this game, Ma Xiaofei has achieved 6 consecutive hegemony of "celebrities", which is the longest consecutive hegemony record in the domestic chess world so far.

However, judging from the process of this game, it should be said that Ma Xiaofei won more thrillingly. Chang Rensheng once led 2-1 to force Ma Xiaofei into a desperate situation, even if he lost the next two sets, he actually had a lot of opportunities, but unfortunately he didn't seize these opportunities once, and finally let Ma Xiaofei magically defend his title.

There were also a lot of comments after the game about the contest between Ma Xiaofei and Chang Rensheng, but all the comments mainly focused on these two points: First, through this "celebrity battle", everyone thinks that Chang Rensheng has made great progress, and judging from the content shown on the chess game, it is believed that he now has the ability to challenge Ma Xiaofei or Li Xiaoqiang. The second is to feel that Ma Xiaofei really has a fate with a "celebrity", because in addition to "fate", he really can't find any other reason to defend his title.

It should be said that both statements are undoubtedly very true. But in Li Xiaoqiang's view, if only these two understandings are not enough, especially for Chang Rensheng, such understanding is far from enough.

"It's okay for others to say this kind of thing, but you have to sum up the lessons yourself, your biggest problem now is that you can't withstand it at a critical time, especially when you get a little advantage, you like to take it, this is a very bad habit, and it's also your biggest problem, do you think I'm right......"

Li Xiaoqiang put on a "boss" style to educate Chang Rensheng, and Chang Rensheng, as the "little brother", can only bow his head and be taught. Of course, when Li Xiaoqiang said such a thing, he couldn't be untargeted.

“…… You also know what kind of chess Li Shifo is, Xiao Chang, you know, in my opinion, your fault is the key to determining your victory or defeat this time. You've solved this problem well, and I think you have a good chance of winning him this time. If you are still the same and play chess like a girl at a critical time, then you just wait to be taught a lesson by him. So you have to be fully aware of that. ”

The "little brother" can only be educated in private, and when it comes to public, he must support his "little brother". Li Xiaoqiang believes that this is what a qualified "boss" should do.

After arriving in South Korea, Li Xiaoqiang was interviewed by reporters, when talking about the upcoming semi-finals, Li Xiaoqiang was noncommittal about his game, and talked eloquently about the other semi-finals:

"I know a lot of people are talking about the final between me and Li Shifo now, but it seems too early to mention the final at this time, because there are still a lot of uncertainties in this semi-final."

"Oh? So what uncertainties does Li Sang think? ”

"The biggest uncertaintie is, of course, Chang Rensheng."

"Huh? Could it be that Li Sang actually thought that Chang Rensheng could defeat Li Shifo? ”

"Of course!"

Li Xiaoqiang smiled: "And I want to correct you a grammatical mistake, Chang Rensheng is not "actually possible" to defeat Li Shifo, but very likely." ”

"Quite possibly?"

"That's right." Li Xiaoqiang replied with certainty: "Although Chang Rensheng is the first time to break into the top 4 of the World Series, his strength will definitely surprise you this time." ”

Not many people care about Li Xiaoqiang's words, and in the eyes of the South Korean media, Li Xiaoqiang's approach of supporting his teammates is just some boring saliva, or another form of psychological warfare.

However, when the official match began, especially at the end of the first game, the Koreans were really surprised.

In the first game of the semifinals of the 9th "Toyo Securities Cup", two Chinese chess players were 1-0. Li Xiaoqiang scored 1-0 against Liu Shixun, and Chang Rensheng also beat Li Shifo beautifully, and he also led by a score of 1-0.

For Li Xiaoqiang's defeat of Liu Shixun, of course, there is nothing to say, and it did not stir up any waves. Li Xiaoqiang's kung fu of "winning the hand" is also ranked first in today's world chess world. Especially against the "Benge" who play chess well, this kind of chess player is originally the favorite of "master".

Japan's "Liu Tianyuan" is Korean, he is 5 years older than Li Shifo, but he is the same generation, the two had a very good personal relationship when they were young, Li Shifo was accepted by Lao Cao as an "inner disciple", Liu Shixun was also expected to be accepted by Xu Fengzhu as an apprentice. However, it may be that he saw Li Shifo's genius, so he did not stay in China to compete with Li Shifo, but went to Japan to develop.

Liu Shixun was able to make a name for himself in the Japanese chess world, and it can be said that the unique momentum of Korean chess players played a great role. But after so many years, the momentum in him has become less and less. The current "Yanagi Tengen" is already the standard Japanese "Bengepai". Li Xiaoqiang is of course very handy in dealing with this type of chess player, especially the kind of "Benge School" whose skills are not profound. Therefore, it is very normal for him to defeat Liu Shixun. In the semi-finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup", no one took the match between the two of them as a highlight.

The real attraction is on the other side.

Especially after Li Shifo's defeat in the first game, many people were surprised and talked about at the same time.

This is the first time that Chang Rensheng has entered the top 4 of the World Series, and Li Shifo has three world championships in hand. As for the number of times he has entered the top 4, no one knows at all - for Li Shifo or Li Xiaoqiang, what is the significance of statistics like this? Therefore, whether in terms of fame or status in the world chess world, the two are not at the same level at all.

Here's the interesting part, if you only look at it from this point of view, Chang Rensheng's defeat of Li Shifo should be regarded as an upset, right? But anyone who has seen the first game can say anything like this.

"Hanging, this is simply a hanging from beginning to end! Chang Ren Sheng's hanging beat Li Shifo? Hahahaha, I really can't see it usually, it turns out that Xiao Chang is so powerful. ”

Regarding Zhang Da's reporter using the word "hanging", Li Xiaoqiang basically agreed. At the same time, he gloated and added:

"Koreans don't seem to have a long memory, when the old Nie hung and beat Li Shifo, did they forget it so quickly? Chang Rensheng has really inherited the mantle of Lao Nie, and his prologue kung fu even I have to admire, as far as Li Shifo's layout level is concerned, I think it is really not enough to see in front of Xiao Chang. In addition, this is the first time the two of them have played each other, and Li Shifo still has a problem of being afraid of life. As long as he meets someone he has never played against, he always plays a little restrained. If he loses this game, he loses on these 2 points. So it's not surprising at all that I said that Koreans would be surprised. ”

"Seeing that you are right, it sounds like there is a little bit of truth. So in your opinion, Xiao Chang really has a great chance this time? ”

"How big is Xiao Chang's chance, can't you see it in the first game of chess? However, if he wants to really win Li Shifo, it mainly depends on himself. ”

"What do you look at himself?"

"It depends on whether he can play constantly, and see if his weaknesses will be caught by Li Shifo."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Because Xiao Chang is not the old Nie of the year, and Li Shifo is not the Li Shifo of the year. Although Chang Rensheng's prelude kung fu is very strong, he has not yet reached the realm of Lao Nie, after all, he can't win the prelude like Lao Nie. Therefore, after this first set, the two sides will finally compete with each other's real kung fu...... I said Zhang Da reporter, what are you doing watching me like this? ”

"It's nothing, I'm just looking to see what a real god stick looks like."

"Roll ......"

Regardless of Li Xiaoqiang's level as a god stick, after the first game of the semifinals, the atmosphere of the whole arena has indeed changed. The expected "Li Xiaoqiang and Li Shifo finals" is no longer everyone's main topic, and Chang Rensheng has become the focus of everyone's attention.

After a day of rest, the second game continued. Li Xiaoqiang's game is still not much attention, because this game of chess is still unfazed and still has no news value. In the end, Li Xiaoqiang won the opponent relatively easily, thus breaking into the final of this year's "Toyo Securities Cup".

Now it's up to the other side.

The result on that side finally made the South Korean media breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. In the second game, Li Shifo showed his true strength, and he successfully pulled one back.

The reason why Koreans say that they are temporarily relieved. This is because they found that Chang Rensheng is indeed a strong opponent, and compared with Chang Rensheng's beautiful victory in the first game, Li Shifo won this set a little hard.

"Is it Li Xiaoqiang and Li Shifo meeting in the finals? Or will two Chinese chess players meet in the finals? At present, it is still a little unclear, and the situation is still a little confusing. ”

This was a quote that was mentioned in many media reports after the end of the second game.

The day has come for the tiebreaker.

"Xiao Chang, come on!" Reporter Zhang Da encouraged Chang Rensheng.

"Don't be so nervous, pay attention to what I remind you." Li Xiaoqiang patted Chang Rensheng on the shoulder, and he sent his teammates into the game room like this.

Who will be their opponent in the final? Li Xiaoqiang continues to pay attention. (To be continued.) )