Go is the quintessence of China and a living symbol of its long history and culture, but it is also a small part of life.
No matter what is happening in the chess circle, time is slowly moving towards the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Although the cold wind in winter is strong, it carries a bit of tenderness about leaving the old age. The snow on the branches in the forest began to be mottled, revealing the outlines of dead branches.
In the morning light, thin frost intertwined with the first dew, adding a touch of freshness to this quiet winter picture at the dawn of each day...
The entire Chinese land was also in full swing throughout the year. The silver-covered world is gradually dyed with a touch of elegant blue, gradually returning to the peace and tranquility of winter.
Inadvertently, time has quietly entered the last month of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Lunar Calendar...
January 20, 2026, the second day of the twelfth lunar month, a severe cold, and also the eleventh round of the Chinese League regular season game day.
Northern China, Jinyang City, the capital of Jinfen Province.
At 12:30 noon that day, Lee Jung-yeon, the leader of South Korea’s previous generation and five-time champion, walked out of his hotel room and glanced at the vast land covered in silver. His expression seemed to feel something, but he didn’t After stopping for a moment, he continued to walk towards the game room on the first floor.
Lao Li, who was born in November 1993, officially turned thirty-three three months ago.
Although he has been practicing diligently at Go, and South Korea has always had a tradition of veterans maintaining their form for a long time and many precedents...
But, Li Tingyan must admit...
In his own In the thirty-fourth winter of his life, he could still clearly smell the faint smell of aging surrounding him, so much so that just looking at the winding mountains of white and white in the distance outside the window, he couldn't help but feel... Feeling.
In the past year, Lao Li's performance cannot be said to be very good.
In the World Championships, the Spring Orchid Cup, Dream Lily Cup, and LIG Cup were all eliminated as soon as they came on the field, while the Sanshuang Cup only barely made it to the quarterfinals.
Although there is a factor of luck that prematurely removed China's strong players such as Ji Qiufu, facing the large number of first-class players in China, he has gradually been at a disadvantage. This is a fact that South Korea's five-time champion has to accept.
Because of this, in the Weijia League, Lao Li, who switched to the Jinfen team as the head coach this season, his results can only be said to be quite mediocre.
Since the start of the season, the Jinfen team is only ranked 12th in the standings, which is far from the goal of entering the championship zone set at the beginning of the season. They even have to work hard to get a high position in the relegation zone to gain the upper hand for successful relegation.
After signing this year's contract... I guess the Jinfen team won't renew my contract, right?
His eyes swept across the scenery outside the window again, and Lao Li couldn't help but think about it in his heart.
...but...this is fine!
I can also focus my only energy on the World Championship!
Although there is definitely no chance to win the championship again...
But, try to find ways to help Xiaoyanagi to support the situation!
Otherwise he would be working too hard...
Just as he was thinking slightly, Lao Li had already walked to the door of the game room.
After pushing the door and entering, he took a general glance and found that he seemed to be the first to arrive, while the opponent's four chess players were already in place - this may be due to comparison with their team's leader. Like to come to the scene early and adapt to the environment.
Even, you can even hear the Chinese Empress Mulan on the opposite side saying something to the reigning celebrity Zhaojun:
"...So, Rui Zhao!
" You have to be careful in the next few rounds of armor!
"Let's not talk about whether we can rush into the championship zone. You should at least upgrade this eighth-level first, right?!
"You've been stuck in the seventh-level for a year and a half! This time is so long that I can hardly stand it anymore!
“Originally, you were able to escape the tribulation after winning the Yixian Competition against Ji Qiufu, but why did something suddenly go wrong for you at that time!
“It wasn’t you who was at the Weijia Award Ceremony. Do you want to be promoted to the ninth level without any preferential treatment? ! "
"...Huh? Rising, rising to eight?
"Am I about to reach the eighth dan?!"
"...
"...Please! Can you not be like that dog of yours who was so confused when you were promoted to eighth grade? !
"Your first, second and third responsibility rounds are now on the verge of promotion! In addition to the two main players of the five teams that are foreign players, the other three are Lin Ruixin, Xiong Siyi and Zhu Yuan Jun!
“As long as you win two of these three people, you can successfully advance to the eighth grade. At least give yourself a New Year’s gift before the new year!
"Otherwise, even if I get promoted to ninth dan next year, I won't feel any sense of accomplishment if you're still a seventh dan! I always feel that dan is useless..."
"Uh...actually I think...ah no! Nothing, nothing!
"Anyway! Brother Du also warned me.
"I will work hard in the next siege and try to fill the hole I dug before! FIGHT!"
"That little witch, let me interrupt...
< br>
"Although I think I have a good temper, and I admit it when everyone calls me 'Zeng Gou'..." But I am here after all. Is using "tiao" as the quantifier too much or a little too much? ! "
"...Eh, eh? !
“Uh...I’m sorry...”
……
Hmm...
There are two young girls in the team that are really lively!
All the young girls in their twenties are wearing men's armors - and there are two of them!
The future of Chinese Go is really enviable.
But...
Fortunately, we also have our own luck!
Lao Li silently glanced at his opponent's rest area, but still came to his own rest area calmly and waited for the game to start.
…
Soon, as other members and staff of the Jinfen team entered the stadium one after another, the two sides quickly entered the game process.
The chief referee announced the results of the match in the presence of both sides. The Jinfen team faced the Pohu team with a similar points situation. Naturally, they went all out in this game and put Lao Li, the strongest player in the team, on the main stage as usual.
[Li Tingyan] vs. [Rui Zhao] - This is a matchup that is completely in line with both sides' expectations.
So as soon as the match was confirmed, the two captains walked to the second station at the same time in a tacit understanding. It's just that one pace is slow and steady, while the other one looks full of expectation.
Seeing that his opponent was still full of energy and energy, Li Tingyan, who sat down in front of the game table, couldn't help but laugh. He made a rare joke and said:
"Ah, Mr. Rui Zhao, are you so excited?
“Although I know that you have a very high winning rate for our South Korean players, including our South Korea who lost face in the Dream Lily Cup...
"But I'm not that weak!"
"...Huh? No!"
Rui Zhao was startled when he heard this, and then quickly denied it:
"I I was just thinking that I had only played one game with you Li Jiuduan before, and I am really looking forward to meeting you again this time!
"Being able to ask for advice from different masters is a happy thing in itself. !
"And..."
Speaking of this, Zhaojun, who was still in a bright mood, suddenly lowered his eyes and said helplessly:
"And this time in the dream Lily Cup, it should be It’s only us who feel embarrassed.
“Although we can. I feel very happy to ask Liu Jiudan for advice again...
"But as one of the six Chinese chess players he defeated on his way to the championship, he defeated seven against one and defeated eight by himself. I am still a little bit unwilling to fight against the odds to win the championship..."
"Ah, there's no need for that!"
Li Tingyan couldn't help showing a rather gratified smile and said:
"Xiao Liu now... is really difficult to win.
< br>“Come on, let’s get started! ”
——Yes, just as the two said.
In the 6th Dream Lily Cup that ended not long ago, as the only player from a foreign country to enter the quarter-finals, twelve-time champion Ryu Se-hyun, the god of agriculture, relied on his superior chess quality in the quarter-finals. He pushed Rui Zhao flatly and defeated Xiong Siyi 2-0 again in the semifinals.
In the final five rounds of chess, facing Lei Qi, the most powerful challenger to his throne at the moment, although the four games of the finals were very anxious, the young master of the Liu family who was on top of the throne still used the first guess. Taking advantage of white's chess piece, he took a 2-1 lead in the first three games, and successfully reversed the opponent's situation by taking advantage of the melee in the crucial fourth game. Defending the Dream Lily Cup championship with an impressive record of nine wins and one loss!
While completely putting an end to the debate about "the best person in the world" that had been rampant after winning two consecutive world championships in Lei Qi, Ryu Se-hyun's total number of world championships has also officially tied with his predecessor Choi Sung-seok. With his much stronger The Nongshim Cup record has made him the undisputed second in history, almost as good as Choi Myung-ho, the first in history!
At a time when South Korea’s Go stars, which have been brilliant for more than thirty years, are gradually withering away, and the overall talent reserve is becoming increasingly scarce...
Ryu Se-hyun, the world’s number one player, has suffered a setback in his career. The best years in life shine with the most dazzling light. (End of chapter)