"Computer counting results, white wins a quarter of a piece.
"Lei Qi 9th Dan, do you confirm this result?"
At 6:50 in the evening on November 19th, the game room of the Grand Blue Sky Hotel.
The challenger final of the 38th China Go Masters Tournament in 2025 finally ended after five hours and fifty minutes of fierce fighting and a total of 330 moves.
Ever since the AI judged the situation clearly on the 270th move, White's winning rate curve that reached the top of the winning rate table has never come down.
Although the situation is only half the difference, it is like a natural chasm against black!
After both sides confirm the final game, the chief referee reports the final computer counting results to the two players and asks the losing side for their opinion.
"Confirm."
At this time, Lei Qi's voice sounded a little tired.
Although it was a half-seen victory or defeat, when a master like Lei Qi came to this level, he would naturally know it already - he even knew which move he was losing! But in the end it didn't help.
"Then...the Challenger Finals of this Masters Tournament are over!
"You two really played a very, very brilliant game of chess!"
Before the official announcement of the result of the game, the gray-haired old referee seemed very emotional and said a little more about his personal feelings about watching the game:
"I originally thought that the first place game this year would be the Nongshim Cup final game at the beginning of the year, but there are talented people in the country, and after watching this game of two talented people born in 2005, I saw it. Missing!
"It's a pity... both of them performed so wonderfully, only one person can finally enter the third round of this celebrity battle.
“In the end, Rui Zhao won the seventh-dan match with a quarter-piece advantage! He will officially challenge the reigning celebrity Ni Jue’s ninth-dan tomorrow!
"Rui Zhao 7th Dan, you are also the first female chess player in the history of Chinese chess to become an unrestricted title challenger!
"Congratulations! I hope you will continue to work hard in the future!"
"Ah..."
It wasn't until Lei Qi's extremely tired response and the referee's appreciative congratulations reached his ears that Rui Zhao completely quit the "flow" and recovered from the intense and even ups and downs of the game just now.
Um...I am...
...Finally won? !
After realizing this, as the joy of victory filled Zhaojun's heart, the corners of Rui Zhao's mouth began to turn up slightly involuntarily!
ah! Really great!
This game of chess is really not easy!
Rui Zhao, who had finally relaxed his whole body, couldn't help but sigh sincerely in his heart.
In her opinion, Lei Qi played this game very well!
Not only did he directly enter Ni Dao's transformation at the beginning, but he also looked prepared and menacing, forcing himself to take precautions and eliminate Ni Dao's sharpness first. And then, even though he was already hit by the knife, he also made an extremely wonderful performance in the middle game, and turned the situation around by relying on the quality of his moves!
Even when she reached the final stage of the game, she felt like she had no hope!
This is also...thanks to Lei Qi's two final mistakes at the ninth level!
At this moment, Rui Zhao rarely showed a smile that showed him that he was deeply grateful to have survived the disaster.
In fact, although the Queen Zhao in the Chinese chess world cares about winning or losing, in the final analysis she still values her own performance more.
Rui Zhao would not be too sad if she lost with all her strength. And like today's "picking up a spoon to win", she would not be too proud of this victory.
However, this game of chess is different!
Winning this game means that Ni Jue can keep his [Celebrity] title!
Rui Zhao was naturally happy to be able to do something for Senior Brother Ni, who had helped him many times:
"Um...thank you!
"I will continue to work hard in the future!"
Rui Zhao came back to his senses and hurriedly thanked the chief referee for congratulating him, and then thought about reviewing today's extremely exciting game with Lei Qi.
But when she looked at her opponent in this game, she saw Lei Qi slumped on the chair. His entire upper body seemed to be supported by his right arm on the armrest of the chair. The feeling of regret and unwillingness almost disappeared. The whole person overflowed.
Rui Zhao was startled at first when he saw this, but then he quickly realized:
After playing such a good game of chess, in the end, I won the game by relying on Senior Brother Ni's flying knife and his dealings until now. Lei Qi 9th Dan will definitely not be happy...
Like the last single official Jie, my Jie was clearly superior in talent, but he also worked hard to hold on for a long time...
Hmm... Sure enough, it's not a good feeling to rely on your senior brother's flying knife to kill people...
Rui Zhao thought a little embarrassedly, and then quickly said:
"That, that... Lei Qi 9th Dan!
"I'm really sorry this time! Obviously... you played the game so beautifully!
"Especially your move in move 83. I felt like this move seemed to be shining on the chessboard. I was a little obsessed just thinking about it!
"It's just that your state was a little bad in the second half of the game today, so I picked up a game...actually you are much better than me!"
However, even though Rui Zhao tried very hard to comfort his peer, Lei Qi's expression did not change at all. He just raised his eyes and glanced at his "strong rival", and then said tiredly and calmly:
"Hey...what do you mean by 'let you pick up a plate'!
"I said that I will give my best to every game you play - especially this game.
"As for the last two mistakes today...it's my own problem.
"I am not as good as others, so I am willing to lose. This game of chess... I am convinced that I lost!
"I am deeply honored to finish this game of chess with you!"
"...Eh?!"
Lei Qi's reaction surprised Rui Zhao. Obviously...
He looks very unwilling...
"Don't, don't say that...
"Actually, this game of chess can beat you, Lei Qi 9th Dan, and so can I..."
Just as Rui Zhao was thinking about explaining more, Lei Qi suddenly raised his hand and interrupted her:
"Okay! I'm quite tired now, so don't waste my time.
"I just want to put away the chess quickly, take a rest first, and review the game...maybe another day."
"Ah...Okay, okay."
Although Rui Zhao regretted not being able to start the review immediately, she couldn't resist at the moment, so she quickly agreed.
The two quickly put away the chessboard. After closing the chess box, the reigning chess saint of China suddenly stood up, looked directly at Zhaojun, who had just become the challenger for the title of [Celebrity], and said solemnly:
"That... celebrity Zhaojun.
"Next year...I will challenge your [Celebrity] title again!"
"...Eh?!
"M-famous Zhaojun?!"
Hearing this title, Rui Zhao was shocked and quickly explained:
"That, that...Lei Qi 9th Dan! I shouldn't be able to become a [Celebrity]..."
However, before Rui Zhao could finish speaking, Lei Qi calmly interrupted again:
"You will try your best to play three games of chess between celebrities, right?"
"...Ah?!
"This, of course!
"However, Senior Brother Ni has prepared a new flying knife and is waiting for me! These three games of chess are going to be difficult to play!"
"..."
Lei Qi looked at his "strong rival" quite speechlessly for two seconds, then sighed lightly, said nothing more, waved goodbye, and walked out of the game room.
Ruizhao was left alone by the chess table for a while, not understanding what the other party meant.
However, the time left for the new [Celebrity] challengers is not long...
Only ten seconds after Lei Qi left, the reigning celebrity rushed to the game room with a smile on his face to congratulate his junior sister.
The moment he saw Ni Jue, Xiaoqi Hanhan put the confusion behind him and happily ran to his senior brother to claim credit:
"Senior Brother Ni! I have completed my mission!"
"Yeah! Well done, today's game was really exciting!
“It just seems like my blood pressure is a little high!”
"Ah... there's nothing I can do! Lei Qi Jiudan played this game really well!
"That, that, next is the promised reward!!
"I used to be the one who stabbed others, but this time it's finally my turn to be stabbed! I'm so happy!"
"...Ah?! Uh...
"Hey, hey...
"This is not a good thing. Why are you so happy?"
…
…
However, just three days later...
Rui Zhao then understood the meaning of Lei Qi's inappropriate address after the Masters Challenger final...
November 22, Pengze City, China.
The second game of the three-game celebrity battle officially ended in the game room of the Grand Blue Sky Hotel.
After winning the first game in a draw, the challenger Rui Zhao once again defeated Ni Jue calmly, without giving the reigning celebrity any chance.
At this point, the current Zhaojun is officially crowned with the title of [Celebrity]! The title "Celebrity Zhaojun" was born!
The female leader of the Pohu team tied Wu Lao's record of winning the [National Player] title in South Korea in one fell swoop, becoming the first female chess player to hold an unrestricted title in the history of the Chinese chess world! At the same time, she is also the first women’s unrestricted national championship in China!
Regarding this record, the Chinese chess world and even the entire sports world are excited about it! Congratulations and congratulations are pouring in!
Even Ni Jue, the original celebrity who had just been picked off the horse, had no regrets at all after the game. Instead, he came to his junior sister with great joy to congratulate him.
But at such a memorable moment, the celebrity Zhaojun himself stood blankly in front of the chess stage after achieving his feat, as if...
Finally, I realized something was normal. (End of chapter)