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

Choi Myung-ho seemed a little surprised to hear such a straightforward question from his junior, but then he smiled a little and nodded:
“It was Chairman Liang who brought it up, but I also want to talk to you about it.

"The world's strongest chess player competition is about to begin... I hope I didn't disturb your preparations?"

When Choi Myung-ho was young, he was emotionally indifferent and was notoriously taciturn. He even often had a stern face on the championship podium at the World Championships, and was always nicknamed the "Stone Buddha".

However, after gradually fading out of the first-line arena, this historical best who once dominated the world of Go with an indifferent look on his face has become much more approachable, especially towards his juniors.

Facing the seniors who had taught and advised him a lot, the always humble and easy-going 15-time champion would naturally not be rude or neglectful:

“…Of course not.

"I'm not her. I still need something else to refresh my brain."

"TA?"

Cui Minghao was a little confused by this sudden appearance of a neutral nickname. Liu Shixian immediately explained briefly and without hesitation:
“…I’m talking about Rui Zhao.

"If it's her, I feel like as long as we don't disturb her, she will continue to practice chess until the end of time...

"To be honest, this is the first time I've met someone more extreme than you and myself!"

At this point, Liu Shixian smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly, saying with a bit of self-mockery:

"At the end of the last Nongshim Cup, I shamelessly told Lei Qi that she and I were actually the same kind of people. Now thinking back on it, I really feel a little embarrassed..."

"……Yeah?
"No wonder you always speak so highly of her."

The stone Buddha's expressionless face showed some subtle changes, as if there was a terrifying and infinite power hidden under this seemingly ordinary narration. Then he asked in a low voice:

"So, this time, the World's Strongest Chess Player Tournament..."

The recognized GOAT, who spoke vaguely, looked at the equally recognized executive vice-GOAT, and the unfinished question in the second half of the sentence was already contained in this concerned look.

If Go is the ultimate romantic art in Choi Sung-seok's heart, then for Choi Myeong-ho, Go is his life itself.

Although people have long silently considered this greatest legend since the Go World Championship era as an inactive player, in fact, to this day, the old man who is over 50 years old is still constantly participating in the preliminaries of various competitions - it's just that he is too old to enter the main competition.

For Choi Myung-ho, the so-called honor and dignity of the best in history are not important at all.

All he wanted was to continue his life in peace, that's all.

However, under the concerned gaze of the senior, Young Master Liu did not give any direct answer, but unexpectedly asked back:

“That…Senior Cui.

"I have actually been wanting to ask you a somewhat presumptuous question. Can you forgive my impoliteness?"

"...You say. There's no need to be so polite between us."

Although there was a hint of surprise in his eyes, Choi Myung-ho's tone remained flat.

"Thank you."

Liu Shixian thanked him first, then blinked twice and asked:
"When you won the fifth Spring Orchid Cup in 2005, did you ever think that would be your last world championship?"

This is indeed a slightly presumptuous question - after all, after winning the fifth Spring Orchid Cup, the best player in history reached the world championship finals nine more times, but never won another championship.

"Nine consecutive runner-up" is also a slightly embarrassing record in Choi Myung-ho's legendary career.

However, after a brief pause, the 16-time champion of South Korea answered with no hesitation and in all seriousness:
“…Of course not.

"At the beginning of that year, I had just completed the so-called 'Dongjiang victory' in the Nongshim Cup, so I had some confidence."

"That……

"When did you feel that you might never win the world championship again?" "...Um...

"If I have to say, it was probably the time when I lost to Lei Jingming 2008th Dan in the Sanshuang Cup finals!"

In response to the junior's question, Choi Myung-ho hesitated for a moment and once again spoke out his thoughts truthfully, and he rarely spoke in such detail:

“Although I hadn’t won a championship for almost two years at that time – in the 07 Sanshuang Cup and Fuji Cup finals, I lost to Shang Chaotian and Li Zhengxun respectively.

“Even in the just concluded Nongshim Cup, I lost to Shang Jiudan for the first time in a challenge match, giving China its first Nongshim champion.

"But when I entered the finals of the 08 Sanshuang Cup and faced Lei Jingming, th Dan, to be honest, I was quite confident...

"At that time, Lei Jingming was notorious for his poor performance in foreign matches. Moreover, I had fought him four or five times before, and I had never lost to him. I thought that even if others couldn't stop him, I would definitely be able to do it.

"And the result... you know it too."

At this point, Cui Minghao couldn't help but sighed, and then continued:
“That year I was… thirty-two years old.

"I remember that I lost a lot in the final game, but I played with Lei Jiudan very unceremoniously until all the official games were completed - I hope he doesn't blame me in his heart!
“Although Lei Jiudan is only two years younger than me, at that moment I really felt like I was old, so I was very unwilling to accept it.

"Of course, I immediately put that thought out of my mind, bounced back and went on to reach six more finals.

“But I have to admit that I did feel for a moment that I might never win the world championship again - I didn’t expect that my words would come true!”

At this point, the best player in history who was still quietly recounting his experience back then stopped talking, and then looked at the younger generation in front of him with a slightly complicated expression:
"Xiao Liu, you suddenly asked me this, could it be..."

"…Yes! That's the 'can't be'!"

The strongest chess player in South Korea shrugged helplessly, his lowered eyes wandering for a moment.

"It's the same as you. When the Miao family won the Bailing Cup last year, I felt that a new wave had arrived, and even my status as the so-called 'number one in the world' might soon be in jeopardy...

"But even so, I don't think I won't be able to win the World Cup in the future - at most the frequency will be much less than in the past few years.

"But now..."

At this point, Liu Shixian retracted his gaze and said earnestly but helplessly to the best player in history who only won one more championship than him:
“…I do feel that I may have won the last world championship of my career.”

After these words were spoken, even the usually calm Choi Myung-ho's expression changed slightly.

You know, Liu Shixian is not even 27 years old right now, which is the time when a chess player has the best overall strength!
As long as a country is the leader, even if it does not reach new heights in the future, there is definitely no possibility of its immediate end - ah, the situation of a certain Chinese seven-time champion is rather special and is not included.

"Xiao Liu, are you too pessimistic?"

Cui Minghao frowned and asked:
"You just lost to Lei Qi in the LIG Cup semi-finals. If you lose confidence in yourself just because of this, then it's a bit too demanding..."

"Not because of this."

Without waiting for the senior to finish, Liu Shixian interrupted briefly:
"I felt this way before LIG lost to Lei Qi..."

"Before this?"

Cui Minghao was even more surprised and continued to ask:
“Then…when was it?
"When did you start to feel that you would never be able to win the world championship again?"

Liu Shixian pursed his lips and told his senior his thoughts truthfully:

"When the only student of Lei Jiudan said at the media conference of the LIG Cup that he wanted to be the 'best in history', I suddenly began to feel that I might have won the last championship of my career.

“And, this feeling…

"It's getting stronger now." (End of this chapter)