The "Asian Cup" TV rapid chess tournament is a relatively unique scenery in the world chess world.

It's a small competition, but the specifications of the competition are quite high.

Founded in 1989, the "Asian Cup" TV Go Rapid Chess Tournament can be regarded as a traditional international Go tournament with a long history. The participants of the "Asian Cup" are the champions and runners-up of Japan's "NHK Cup", South Korea's "KBS Cup" and China's "CCTV Cup", as well as the previous champion of the "Asian Cup". Among them, the champion of the previous edition directly entered the semi-finals, and the total number of participants was only 7. Compared to other Go tournaments, this is of course a small scale.

The tournament was hosted by China's CCTV, Japan's NHK, and South Korea's KBS. Although there is no such thing as "national television" in Japan and South Korea, these two television stations in Japan and South Korea are the largest television stations in their countries, and they are actually the same as domestic CCTV, in a sense they assume the role of "national television".

This feature of the "Asian Cup" is destined to determine the high standard of this competition. You know, even if other world competitions reach the finals, they may not be seen on TV. But what about the "Asian Cup"? The "Asian Cup" never has to think about this issue, because any match of the "Asian Cup" will be broadcast live by the three TV stations. This kind of treatment, of course, cannot be done in other Go tournaments.

Although the name of the "Asian Cup" is "Asia", this competition is truly world-class. Not to mention that China, Japan and South Korea are the three countries with the highest level of Go in the world. The "Asian Cup" does not need to take care of the "world" of the tournament in order to take care of the "world" of the competition, as in other world competitions, to pull some low-level chess players to make up the numbers. The qualification for the "Asian Cup" is simple and pure, if you can't pass the domestic competition, it doesn't matter how high your level is and how famous you are. Also not eligible for this competition.

Of course, there is another feature of the "Asian Cup", although this competition is a real world level, due to the characteristics of rapid chess, such a game is particularly prone to upsets. Compared with the Three Kingdoms Tournament, which is also a rapid chess tournament, the "Asian Cup" is more suitable for live TV. The rules of the "Asian Cup" are: the first move starts counting the seconds, one move is made within 30 seconds, and there are 10 maneuvers for a total of 10 minutes. It must be admitted that compared to this format, a format like the "Shinro Cup" can be called slow chess.

This format ensures that a set of matches can be played in about two and a half hours, which is undoubtedly suitable for live TV.

In mid-July 1997, as the champion of this year's Chinese "CCTV Cup", Li Xiaoqiang was going to Japan to participate in such a competition.

I went to Japan with Li Xiaoqiang this time. It is the head of the Chinese delegation, Team Leader Hua, the runner-up of the "CCTV Cup" Yu Bin and reporter Zhang Da. On the plane, several people were chatting.

"It seems that the Koreans are a little unkind enough to do this time." Team Leader Hua said with a frown.

"It's just that, Koreans have always been so petty." Regarding Team Leader Hua's statement, reporter Zhang Da agreed, and he made a righteous indignation next to him.

Although everyone went to participate in the "Asian Cup", the topic of conversation was other events. Just after Li Xiaoqiang won the "Ying's Cup". South Korea announced that the first "Samsung Cup" and the first "LG Cup" will be postponed. The final of the Samsung Cup, which was scheduled to start at the end of this month, has been postponed to September. The final winner will not be decided until November. The semi-finals of the LG Cup, which were scheduled for next month, were also postponed and moved to October. The final five-way final will be played at the end of the year.

Although the South Korean side has found various reasons for the postponement of the competition. But changing the schedule at this juncture is easy to conjure up with a word called "avoiding its edge".

Because Li Xiaoqiang's recent form is really good, in order to increase the certainty of defeating him, the only way he can think of now seems to be to avoid his edge. Because a person's state is like the ebb and flow of the tide. There are always ups and downs. If Li Xiaoqiang has been able to perform like in the "Ying's Cup", the three top masters can't submit him with their collective efforts, so naturally there is nothing to say. What if after a while, his form fluctuates? Don't ask him to be at the bottom, as long as he's not as crazy as he is now. That would also increase the hope of winning.

This is the wishful thinking of the South Korean side.

"You can force people to change the schedule, Xiaoqiang, you now know how terrifying you are now."

When the team leader and reporter Zhang Da were denouncing the South Koreans, Yu Bin joked. Li Xiaoqiang didn't care much about this kind of thing, and he even comforted Team Leader Hua in turn:

"It's okay, it's good to get used to it. But I would like to remind Mr. Hua that although this is the first time for Koreans to do this, it will definitely not be the last ......."

Although Li Xiaoqiang has just become the first "quadruple champion" in the world chess world, although his current form is so good that South Koreans are afraid. However, when he arrived in Japan, when he faced the "Asian Cup", he still showed a low profile enough.

"My relationship with the Asian Cup has never been good. This is even the second time I have participated in the Asian Cup. That's why I didn't really set any goals for myself when I came to Japan this time, and I didn't even think about winning the championship. I think if I can play every game as well as I can, I will be satisfied......"

The "Eve Festival" of the "Asian Cup", facing the microphone that Yukari Umezawa held to his lips. Li Xiaoqiang's "pre-game speech" can only be regarded as decent, and it is the most common kind of polite words.

How else could it be?

Not to mention that this is in public, Yukari Umezawa has become more and more famous in recent years, and because she often leaves the country on the TV screen, more and more people now call her "the first beauty in the Go world". And it seems that this name is not limited to Japan, but also seems to have spread to China and South Korea......

Li Xiaoqiang noticed that when Umezawa Yukari came to his side. Li Shifo, who was standing not far from him, even people like him, were burning with gossip in his eyes. In the face of this situation, Li Xiaoqiang certainly will not choose to be high-profile at this time, everything is according to the standard routine.

What's more, what Li Xiaoqiang said is also true. If it could be high-profile in other competitions. But in the face of the "Asian Cup", Li Xiaoqiang really couldn't be high-profile. Not to mention Li Xiaoqiang personally, even if it is the entire Chinese Go, it seems that it is impossible to be high-profile in the face of this competition.

The "Asian Cup" has been held this year, and this is the 9th edition. In the previous eight tournaments, Japanese players won the championship 6 times. Korean chess player 2 times. Among them, Mr. Masaki Takemiya won the first four competitions, followed by Noriki Ita and Hero Otake who won once each. It wasn't until the 7th tournament that Li Shifo broke the situation of Japanese chess players dominating the "Asian Cup". He is currently in his seventh and eighth editions of the Asian Cup, this time as the defending champion.

What about Chinese chess players? So far, let alone the champion, even the runner-up has only won twice, once Cao Dafang and once Qian Yuping. Li Xiaoqiang often failed to qualify for the "Asian Cup" before. He only won the "CCTV Cup" once a few years ago. However, that time to participate in the "Asian Cup", Li Xiaoqiang was only a "round tour".

Although in the last year or two, there has been an increase in domestic rapid chess tournaments. For example, the Japanese company that sponsored the "China-Japan Go Tournament" in the past. Now sponsor a rapid chess tournament in China. With more practical training, especially after last year's Three Kingdoms Tournament, Li Xiaoqiang believes that his rapid chess level should have made great progress. However, in the face of the "Asian Cup", whether it is Li Xiaoqiang personally or Chinese Go as a whole, at least he has no confidence when he speaks.

"Okay, then I wish you a good game in the next games......"

Li Xiaoqiang used a standard routine to make a "pre-game speech", so Yukari Umezawa could only be businesslike, and she secretly glared at Li Xiaoqiang when people were not paying attention. Just go and interview other people.

It was under such circumstances that this "Asian Cup" began.

The seven players participating in this year's "Asian Cup": Li Xiaoqiang and Yu Bin from China, and Koji Kobayashi and Wang Licheng from Japan. The South Korean team is Cao Yanzi plus Zheng Shouxuan plus Li Shifo. Among them, Li Shifo had a bye in the first round as the previous champion.

After the results of the first round of the draw came out, reporter Zhang Da smiled there:

"Hehe, Xiaoqiang's luck when he guessed first is always bad. But this draw, he sometimes has good luck. ”

Seeing Li Xiaoqiang's signing, Team Leader Hua was also very happy. At this time, he even began to gossip:

"Xiao Zhang, have you noticed, I found that as long as that little Japanese girl is there. Xiaoqiang's luck when he draws the lottery is always good. Do you remember the time when Xiaoqiang won the Fujitsu Cup for the first time that year? Xiaoqiang went up to draw lots by himself, and he drew Masaki Takemiya and Lin Haifeng in the first two rounds. In the 3rd round, he changed this little girl to help him draw, but the little girl drew McClymont at once, and put Xiaoqiang into the top 4. ”

"Oh? Is there such a thing? I really didn't pay attention to that. ”

"That's of course ......" Team Leader Hua continued to swear to gossip:

“…… This law. Actually, I've been paying attention for a long time......"

Let's not talk about whether Team Leader Hua's "summary law" is reliable or not. But at least today, Li Xiaoqiang did draw a good lot. His opponent in the first round was South Korea's Jung Shou Hyun 9 dan.

In a later Korean university, they once opened a "Go" major. And Zheng Shouxuan Jiudan is the first batch of "Go professors" hired by them.

Although Zheng Jiuduan may be very knowledgeable, he is in the professional chess world, especially in international competitions, where strength is respected. Zheng Shouxuan Jiuduan is, of course, a "soft persimmon".

It must be admitted that Li Xiaoqiang's luck is indeed good, and it is much more difficult to pick up such a "soft persimmon" in the "Asian Cup" than in other competitions.

The "Asian Cup" has a maximum of 3 rounds. After Li Xiaoqiang defeated his opponent in the first round, this can be regarded as entering the semifinals. In addition to Li Xiaoqiang's game, the other two games ended with Wang Licheng defeating Cao Yanzi and Yu Bin losing to Kobayashi Koji.

"Interesting, interesting, this top 4 lineup looks a little familiar......"

Yes, this top 4 lineup is indeed a little familiar, if Li Xiaoqiang is replaced by Ma Xiaofei, this top 4 lineup is exactly the same as the "Fujitsu Cup" not long ago. (To be continued.) )