On the evening of the round of 8, the draw ceremony for the semi-finals of the first "LG Cup" will be held. The results came out quickly: Li Xiaoqiang played against Li Shifo, and Ma Xiaofei and Liu Changhe held hands together.

When the four chess players on the stage were still posing for reporters to take pictures, Zhang Da reporters in the audience had already begun to comment on the results of the lottery. He smiled and said to the Hua team leader beside him:

"This kind of situation should be a good result for us. Xiaoqiang is nothing, it doesn't matter who he is, the key lies in Ma Xiao. Ma Xiao and Liu Changhe have won and lost each other in recent years, but overall Ma Xiao has more wins and fewer losses. What's more, Ma Xiaogang won a game of Liu Changhe at the "Fujitsu Cup" at the beginning of the month, and that game of chess was won very beautifully, so this time they met again, Ma Xiaogang could have a psychological advantage. If he is allowed to play against Li Shifo......"

Two players reached the top 4, which is the best result achieved by the Chinese team in the ongoing World Championship. In addition, the draw results of the semi-finals seemed to be relatively ideal, so when the game was over and everyone was ready to leave for China, the atmosphere of the entire Chinese delegation was very relaxed. Li Yiyi, who accompanied him, also joked with Li Xiaoqiang:

"Xiaoqiang, what are you packing? I think you'll stay in Korea for a few more days, and I didn't book a ticket back to China for you anyway. ”

Hearing Translator Li say this, others also coaxed:

"Yes, yes, I think we will just throw Xiaoqiang alone, so that he doesn't have to complain about tossing back and forth every day......"

Li Xiaoqiang smiled bitterly, a few days after the end of the "LG Cup", followed by the semi-finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup". It is said that in a few days, Li Xiaoqiang will come to Seoul again.

"Hey, I said that your intentions are too vicious, just say it if you want to make money and kill yourself. You let me eat kimchi every day, is that the life of a human being......"

"Hahahaha."

It is certainly impossible to stay in South Korea directly. Not to mention eating kimchi every day, even if you don't eat kimchi, it's impossible. Different World Series have different sponsors. If Li Xiaoqiang stays in South Korea, no one will take care of his food and lodging. Even if Li Xiaoqiang is willing to pay out of his own pocket -- don't forget that the "discipline in foreign affairs" in these years is still very strict.

Therefore, it should be tossed, Li Xiaoqiang still has to toss.

For the third time this year, Cao Yanzi was cut off the horse. In the 5 ongoing World Series. Li Xiaoqiang has already reached the finals in 1 competition, of which 3 have reached the top 4 and the other has reached the top 8. For a while, Li Xiaoqiang really gave people a feeling of "invincible".

"Who will stop Li Xiaoqiang? Who can stop Li Xiaoqiang? ”

From within the Go world to the news media, from the news media to ordinary chess fans, this has become a topic that everyone is increasingly fond of talking about.

Looking at Li Xiaoqiang's combat record, he has fought Cao Yanzi 3 times this year and sent Cao Yanzi home in 3 world series. 4 battles against Zhao Zhixun, kicked Zhao Zhixun out in 2 games. Besides. He also booked a five-way game with Yoo Chang-hyuk and at least three games with Lee Shi-fo. Therefore, the most likely candidate to block Li Xiaoqiang is estimated to be between these two Korean chess players......"

At the China Chess Academy, reporter Zhang Da took a prediction article written by someone who didn't know who wrote it to Li Xiaoqiang:

"Xiaoqiang, do you think this article is reasonable?"

Li Xiaoqiang smiled silently, he thought that what reporter Zhang asked was pure nonsense.

If you want to stop yourself, you must have 2 conditions. No. 1: There must be enough hand-to-hand meetings. If you don't even have the qualifications to sit across from you, then what's the point of stopping? The same thing. The more opportunities you have to fight, the greater the probability of blocking.

Condition 2. Of course, the stronger the candidate, the better. For example, if he is replaced by a big reporter, even if he plays 100 games, he has no possibility of "blocking" himself.

Whether it is Liu Changhe or Li Shifo, they are all top masters, like the aforementioned Cao Yanzi Zhao Zhixun, these plus China's Ma Xiaofei and Japan's Kobayashi Koji. This is the "first group army" in the world chess arena at present. Considered to be a player of the same level as himself. It is up to these people to complete the blockade, which is of course the most likely. Therefore, Li Xiaoqiang believes that this so-called prediction article is simply worthless. Even if no one reminds him, he will regard these two as his most dangerous opponents.

"If there is nothing else, then please go back......" Li Xiaoqiang rolled his eyes at reporter Zhang Da:

“…… I still have to prepare for the war. ”

"Don't ...... Don't, I have 2 more messages related to you. Do you want to hear it? ”

"Say it."

"The first news came from Japan just now, Kobayashi Satoru defeated Zhao Zhixun with a score of 4-2 and once again snatched the title of "Chess Saint" from Zhao Zhixun. ”

"Oh?"

Hearing the news, Li Xiaoqiang became a little interested. From 95 onwards, Satoru Kobayashi and Zhao Jixun engaged in a tug-of-war in Japan's "Chess Holy War". In the first year, Kobayashi Satoru snatched the title of "Chess Saint" from Zhao Zhixun, recaptured by Zhao Zhixun in the second year, and was snatched away by Kobayashi Satoru this year. This is the case in real history, but I didn't expect it to be like this in this life.

"I just finished fighting the "old chess saint", and immediately fought the "new chess saint", this feeling is still very good. Li Xiaoqiang said with a grin.

Of course, Li Xiaoqiang knew why reporter Zhang Da told him this news. Because his opponent in the semifinals of the "Toyo Securities Cup" happened to be Satoru Kobayashi.

Reporter Zhang Da came to mention this incident, originally to remind Li Xiaoqiang that his opponent is currently in good shape. Seeing Li Xiaoqiang's reaction, reporter Zhang Da couldn't help but be dumbfounded. However, it is normal to think about it, although the Japanese themselves value this title of "chess master", and whoever wins this title will be considered "the first person in Japanese Go". Unfortunately, today we have long passed the era of "No. 1 in Japan and No. 1 in the world." And all along, Li Xiaoqiang has maintained a super high winning rate against Japanese chess players. Therefore, in the eyes of reporter Zhang Da, Li Xiaoqiang's reaction now is normal.

"Also, didn't you say you had 2 pieces of news to tell me?" Li Xiaoqiang was noncommittal about the first news, and then asked about the second news.

"The second piece of news is more specific, but I don't know if it's good news or bad news for you. South Korea has just received news that the semi-finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup" have been changed from a three-way chess to a one-game victory. ”

"Oh!"

Hearing this news, Li Xiaoqiang couldn't help frowning. Changing the competition system or schedule at will, Li Xiaoqiang has never liked this kind of behavior that is almost child's play. However, Li Xiaoqiang is not surprised that Koreans do this kind of thing.

Li Xiaoqiang has always believed that if the Japanese are old-fashioned when arranging Go events. Correspondingly, Koreans are too flexible when it comes to arranging Go events, to the point of being casual. For example, the "Samsung Cup" held by Koreans has always been known for "seeking change", and in real history, almost every year the "Samsung Cup" has to come up with some new tricks.

In the World Series, "wild cards" are distributed, 5 and a half to 6 and a half, the match time is fixed from 3 hours to 2 hours for each side, the original selection of opponents replaces the draw, and the group stage is changed from a single-elimination format to a double-elimination ......

It seems that all these new measures were first taken from the "Samsung Cup". Admittedly, some of the new initiatives have been quite successful, which makes the game of Go even more fun. But it must also be noted that there are some changes, and this is not the case.

For example, the most famous "grievance" between Ma Xiaofei and Samsung was caused by Samsung's arbitrary change of schedule. In the 3rd "Samsung Cup" in real history, Ma Xiaofei was 2-1 ahead of Li Shifo in the final, but the organizer changed the schedule at will, and Ma Xiaofei lost the game 2-3. This made Ma Xiaofei full of resentment towards Samsung, so much so that Ma Xiaofei was reluctant to participate in the "Samsung Cup" issued a "wild card" to Ma Xiaofei later.

This is the case with the "Samsung Cup", and the same is true with the "LG Cup". In the early years, the final of the "LG Cup" was a five-way chess, so how did it change to a three-way chess later? It was the "LG Cup" of one year, and the two Chinese players reached the final, so the organizers announced after the semi-finals that the final would be changed from a five-way game to a three-way game......

If it makes sense for the organizers to announce this change before the start of a tournament, he did so after the semi-finals...... Then I have to say that Koreans do reveal a small family spirit in this regard.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Li Xiaoqiang heard that the semi-finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup" were changed from a three-way chess to a single-game victory.

"Alas, the life of the "Toyo Securities Cup" is short......" Li Xiaoqiang sighed in a low voice.

"What are you muttering?" Reporter Zhang Da looked at Li Xiaoqiang a little strangely.

Li Xiaoqiang glanced at reporter Zhang Da: "No...... Didn't say anything......"

Of course, Li Xiaoqiang will not tell reporter Zhang Da that if nothing happens, the "Toyo Securities Cup" should be stopped soon, right? In real history, the "Toyo Securities Cup" was discontinued after the outbreak of the financial crisis next year.

Securities Securities, as you know from the name, the sponsors of the competition themselves are engaged in the financial industry. He should have felt the chill earlier than other industries. This year's temporary change in format should be a clear signal.

At the end of April 1997, Li Xiaoqiang went to Seoul, South Korea again to participate in the semi-finals of the "Toyo Securities Cup".

When the game reached about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the eyes of everyone who followed the game were wide open.

Because everyone suddenly discovered that the person who blocked Li Xiaoqiang seemed to have appeared. (To be continued.) )

PS: As soon as you write Xiaoqiang loses, you are afraid, and as soon as you write Xiaoqiang loses, you are scared. But don't scold me, the most angry way, I recommend you to hit me with a monthly pass.