Go: Is the portable old man the nine-time champion?

Chapter 418 Three Years
"Thank you very much, Chess Master Yi Zheng, for accepting our interview without taking a break after the game. We have a few simple questions to ask you."

Looking at the reporters from the national television station, Yi Zheng sat down on the sofa next to him, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and nodded: "It's nothing, you've all worked hard too, after all, most places should be on holiday now."

It is indeed now the peak period of the Spring Festival travel rush, with less than three days left until Lunar New Year's Eve. Not only have schools already started their winter vacation, but most companies and organizations have also started their holidays. The entire Spring Festival travel rush has already reached its most intense stage.

If it weren't for the sheer number of official competitions this year, forcing the National Championships to be postponed until the very end, it wouldn't have been possible to hold the event until today.

Otherwise, if the best-of-five series were to be completed, the two sides would have to play until the 29th, and the next day would be Lunar New Year's Eve.

Even though the game ended two days early, Yi Zheng still couldn't get a train ticket, so he had to buy a business class ticket on a plane and then take a bus home.

"First of all, congratulations on winning another national championship trophy. In the year you turned eighteen, you demonstrated amazing strength and swept the competition to win the crown."

You are now widely recognized as the world's number one Go player. Does this put any extra pressure on you?
After all, people's expectations of you seem to be getting higher and higher. The Grand Slam titles you mentioned before seem to have become quite normal in everyone's eyes, and some even think that winning two Grand Slam titles is a piece of cake.

Even before the world had achieved a Grand Slam, people were already lending Yi Zheng money to get into the double circle.

Hearing this, Yi Zheng shook his head slightly: "I think it's okay to become the world's number one at eighteen. The other seniors are not that old either. From the thirties to the twenties and now to eighteen, it proves that people are achieving results at an earlier and earlier age."

The main reason is that the professional training system is now quite effective. Many people become professional players around the age of ten, and after a few more years of training in professional competitions, it is not uncommon for them to challenge the world's top players around the age of eighteen.

The main reason for this is the current scientific system, and the internet has also increased the amount of training many times over. Many of the older generation of chess players in the last century may not have played as much chess in a lifetime as we do in a little over a year, so it is normal for young people to achieve such results.

As for pressure, everyone who is number one in the world experiences pressure. If you can't handle that pressure, then you're not suited to be number one.

When everyone is vying for attention, those who don't adapt are easily eliminated, because if they can't keep up, they simply can't.

The reporter nodded slightly upon hearing this: "In this competition, you once again used the new Xuanji Collapse Cloud style, and afterwards you said that this change will become less and less common in professional competitions in the future."

Prior to this, you had eliminated the Demon Blade Thousand Transformations set, one of the three major set patterns, in professional matches, and had even created a completely new variation of the Heavenly Demon Great Transformation set pattern. Now, some netizens are calling you the "set pattern destroyer." What are your thoughts on this?

Yi Zheng felt a little embarrassed when he heard this: "Actually, I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants, it's nothing to be proud of."

The problem with fixed patterns is that people haven't focused on the key point. The reason why fixed patterns were formed in the past was because our established thinking told us that this approach would result in two separate outcomes.

However, according to the changes in theory, the original two-way split actually resulted in one side losing money and the other not losing money. In other words, a completely new change has made it impossible for the two sides to reach a balance, which will directly lead to the elimination of this fixed pattern.

Therefore, I feel it's a good point that everyone agreed upon after research, because what people should really focus on is the change in theory and thinking, not just the change in the method of application. Rote memorization is useless.

"This year we can say that we have achieved very good results. Next year is also a big year for competitions, with the World Cup, the World Championships, the Asian Games and many other competitions. What are your expectations for the results of next year's competitions?" "Next year, I definitely hope to continue the form I have this year, mainly the form I had in the middle and later stages of this year. I hope to maintain an undefeated record in official competitions next year."

It sounds difficult, but I feel I have to push myself to do it because there are indeed others who are stronger than us, and we need to work even harder to improve.

Yi Zheng was referring to both Professor Ke and the artificial intelligence that will emerge in the future. If he couldn't even win against everyone else, defeating any one of them would probably be impossible even with all his efforts.

We must make further progress!
Moreover, the major event that no one has realized next year will likely be the emergence of artificial intelligence.

At that time, the man-machine battle will likely surpass the popularity of all other world competitions and become the real focus.

"The person you mentioned who is ahead of you should be AlphaGo on the internet. You previously defeated this mysterious online chess god with a handicap, but then lost in a game with even odds."

But your skill level has improved a lot recently, and many chess players believe that you now have a chance to defeat him. Do you have that confidence now? Will we have the opportunity to see you play against him again in the future?

Upon hearing this, Yi Zheng couldn't help but glance to the side. Old Ke had absolutely no intention of accompanying the interview and was currently watching TV in his hotel room.

"AlphaGo's strength is universally acknowledged, and I would definitely like to play against it again if I have the chance. I think there is still a certain gap in terms of strength."

However, before the match, I believe that no matter what, I must maintain the mindset that I am certain I can defeat my opponent.

I crave victory, so I will still say I can beat anyone. In my mind, you must never be afraid of anything; if you are, you will lose your whole life.

Upon hearing Yi Zheng's words, the reporter couldn't help but nod: "What are your plans for the future?"

"As for the plan," Yi Zheng answered very decisively, "of course, I'll go home to have a good rest during the Spring Festival, and then return to the national team training ground after the Spring Festival to start preparing for the new year."

Many people will tell you this, but it's a complete lie! The New Year holiday is so precious, it's the perfect opportunity to 'overtake on the curve' and quietly practice to improve, how could you possibly lie down and rest? You have to get competitive!
Last time during the league, I saw several guys with their website accounts online, just privately arranging rooms that others couldn't see. It's getting increasingly competitive now; if you don't participate, you'll be eliminated.

However, another new year has passed, and it seems that Teacher Ke has been by my side teaching me for three years now.

The three-year promise has been fulfilled, and I have truly reached the pinnacle of world dominance.

Time flies by so quickly, it passes by silently.

(End of this chapter)