Go: The live broadcast queen launched a gorgeous rebellion against the dog

"Yeah... indeed."

Shang Chaotian nodded slightly, then sighed softly:

"Last year, in order to concentrate on preparing for the Chess Saint Tournament, he and I discussed it and both felt that the opportunity to challenge for the title of [Chess Saint] was rare, and that we could still participate in the King of Kings Tournament next year, so we gave up and concentrated on preparing for the Chess Saint Tournament...

"As a result, who would have thought that he didn't win the [Chess Saint] title, and he actually didn't win a championship in the past year! As a result, he didn't even qualify to participate this year!

"Obviously, in terms of overall performance and total prize money, he could have been ranked among the top three in the country last year..."

What Shang Chaotian said is absolutely true.

Since May last year, Lei Qi has won 50 yuan for the runner-up in the Chess Saint Tournament, 25 yuan for the semi-finals in the Mengli Lily Cup, about 50 yuan for the runner-up in the Sanshuang Cup, 20 yuan for the runner-up in the Tianyuan Tournament, and with some other bits and pieces, the total prize money has already exceeded that of most of the participating champion chess players.

However, the selection criteria for the King of Kings competition is based solely on the championship prize money.

Lei Qi hadn't won any championship or title in the past year, so he couldn't be selected.

"…But…this is also my fault!"

Shang Chaotian sighed again and said:

"If I had handled that matter better, it wouldn't have turned out like this..."

Seeing Shang Chaotian sighing non-stop, Lu Wenjie quickly interrupted:

"Brother Tian, ​​why are you so anxious? Actually... Xiao Lei has been performing pretty well recently!

“Although the loss of flow has indeed limited his upper limit, his stability seems to have returned!

"Since last year, he has entered the Challenger finals of the Masters Tournament, the semi-finals of the Chess Fairy Tournament, the semi-finals of the Dream Lily Cup, the runner-up of the Sanshuang Cup, and the Challenger of the Tianyuan Tournament. His rating has returned to second place in the country, and the gap between him and Lin Ruixin is even smaller than before last year's Chess Saint Tournament! I think all the chess fans are sad that he can't participate in the King of Kings!"

At this time, Shang Chaotian also showed a somewhat relieved look:

“His mind lately…does seem to be extra focused.

“Although the loss of the Sanshuang Cup is a pity, as a chess player, persistence and accumulation are the most important things, not the victory or defeat of a single game - even if that game is the deciding game of the World Championship final.

"After he lost his second championship by half a point, he was able to maintain his form and stand out as a challenger in the upcoming Tianyuan Tournament. This shows that he has indeed improved."

But when he said this, Shang Chaotian seemed to have thought of something, frowned and said:

“However, I was not satisfied with his performance in the final three-game match of the Tianyuan Tournament.

"Although Ni Jue's flying knives are very scary, he has been giving in from the beginning for two consecutive games, fearing that he would be stabbed. What does that mean?

"Ni Jue defended his title without even having to draw his sword!

"Based on his current condition, he has a chance to become a challenger in the Masters Tournament in the second half of the year! Don't get sick again by then!"

“Uh… yeah.

"Let's go talk to him later!"

Lu Wenjie seemed to have noticed something strange, but he didn't rush to tell Shang Chaotian his guess before confirming it. He changed the subject and said:
"Next... I guess this is the second reason why you're unhappy!
"Seeing that this year's King of Kings Contest has become a gathering of national champions... I'm sure you're in a bad mood, Brother Tian, ​​right?"

Shang Chaotian glanced at his deputy and couldn't help but smile bitterly again.

"I feel like... you've really figured out everything about me over the years!
"Indeed! There is not a single World Champion participating in the competition. This is the first time in the five years since the King of Kings was held!

"Based on past experience, there was no reason to let Lin Ruixin be the last one to appear! But this year, there is no tiger in the mountain, so the monkey is king!"

Shang Chaotian’s words were absolutely correct: the order of the appearance ceremony in the King of Kings competition was arranged from low to high according to the amount of prize money won.

Although Lin Ruixin defended the title of "Chess Saint" again last year, which is more important than a single world championship, the advantage of "Chess Saint" is that it is a challenge system, and the individual prize money cannot compare with the world championship.

But now, with Lei Qi's defeat in the Sanshuang Cup final, Chinese chess players have not won any world championship in the past year. The last time this happened...

It can be traced back to when Shang Chaotian participated in the World Championships. Lu Wenjie pursed his lips and then comforted him:
"It's okay, Brother Tian! There are actually quite a few world championships this year, and we still have a good chance.

"At the end of last month, Gezhou officially announced the first Tongge Cup World Go Championship, which will be officially held in June.

“Also, this is a leap year.

"The 'Olympic Games'...will also be held."

"Um……

"It's time to hold the Yingyi Cup again!"

Shang Chaotian knew that the "Olympic Games" that Lu Wenjie was talking about were not the ones held in Gaul, but the Yingyi Cup World Professional Go Championship, which is known as the "Go Olympics" and is held every four years.

However, even though two tournaments that were not held last year will soon be held this year, the chairman of the chess association is still not optimistic.

The world's number one player, who has shown great dominance, is still the biggest obstacle standing in the way of Chinese chess players winning the championship.

Although Master Liu unexpectedly lost to his country's dark horse 7th-dan chess player Han Chaojun in the Sanshuang Cup, he reversed the situation against Ni Jue in the round of 16 despite being at a disadvantage, and still showed amazing fighting power and suppression!
No one could expect that he would fail unexpectedly again in the Tongge Cup and Yingyi Cup like he did in the Sanshuang Cup.

Moreover, if it is the Yingyi Cup...

Shang Chaotian stared at him for a moment, and suddenly asked his deputy:
"Oh, by the way, Wen Jie.

"Master Liu, is the only thing missing from the Yingyi Cup to achieve his Grand Slam?"

"what?"

Lu Wenjie was stunned and asked subconsciously:
"Is it that fast?"

The "Grand Slam" that the two mentioned is a special honor in the field of Go.

A chess player who can win all the world championships that are held consistently during his active period is considered a "Grand Slam".

However, the only person who finally achieved this achievement was Choi Myeong-ho, the first person in the history of the World Championship era. Even Choi Sung-seok, another leading figure in South Korea who held 13 championships, failed to do so.

Although there is only one person who has achieved the Grand Slam, GOAT, the Go community generally does not list it as an important indicator for evaluating historical status, and does not use it to demand leading figures.

But if someone could achieve it again, it would be a great achievement that could rival the No. 1 in history. Even Shang Chaotian was somewhat envious of his old rival for being able to win all the championships.

Now, when Lu Wenjie heard that Young Master Liu was only missing one item, he was a little surprised and quickly recalled:

“There are six major competitions that are still being held regularly, excluding the Tongge Cup, which we don’t know how many times it can be held: Sanshuang, Miaojia Bailing, LIG, Chunzhilan, Mengli Baihe, and Yingyi.

“Among these six events, the Sanshuang Cup…is his first title in 20 years.

“The Miao Family Bailing Cup… He also won his second title in 20 years.

“LIG Cup… we won two consecutive titles in 21 and 22, and almost won the third consecutive title last year!
“He won the Spring Orchid Cup twice in a row in 21 and last year, and he will strive for a third consecutive championship next year!
“The Dream Lily Cup… he just got it this January!
“What the hell?!

"Unconsciously... Master Liu is really only one Yingyi Cup away from a Grand Slam?!
“It’s only been four years since he won his first title!
"You know, even Lin Ruixin, who is generally recognized as the only one who can compete with Cui Da in talent, took more than five years to get to the point where he was only one step away from being talented!"

"what……?"

Hearing this, Shang Chaotian was stunned for a moment, as if he suddenly realized something, and then said with mixed emotions:
“If you put it that way… I almost forgot.

"Lin Ruixin...

"He is only one step away from winning the Yingyi Cup to win the Grand Slam."

After saying this, Shang Chaotian couldn't help but turn his head and look towards the stage, straight at the free and unrestrained Chinese chess master who was standing in the center of the stage.

At this time, perhaps because the big battle was approaching, the usually unruly look of the number one Chinese Go player seemed to have a bit of arrogance...

And the long-lost determination. (End of this chapter)