Chapter 443 Dream into the Divine Machine
On the other side, Yu Shao and his group also arrived at the hall where the Phoenix Cup opening ceremony was held. At this moment, the hall was overcrowded with countless chess players gathered here.
"We've arrived at the Central Division."
Zhuang Weisheng spotted Zhu Huaian and his group in the hall and said, "Let's go over there."
Soon, Yu Shao and his group of chess players from the southern region walked over to Zhu Huaian and his group and gathered together.
"Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, long time no see."
When Zhu Huaian saw Zhuang Weisheng coming, he immediately greeted him.
"Long time no see. Haven't you arrived at the other three competition areas yet?" Zhuang Weisheng nodded and asked.
"Not yet. I just sent a message asking. It should be here soon."
Zhu Huaian smiled, then looked at Yu Shao and Su Yiming. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "National Chess Master Yu Shao and Great Chess Master Su Yiming, I've always wanted to play against you, but we're not in the same division, and we haven't met in competitions, so I've never had the chance. I hope I can have the chance to play against you at the World Championship this time."
"Me too."
Yu Shao also smiled and replied, "It's a great pity that I never had the chance to play chess with the chess master Zhu Huaian."
Competition in the chess world of China, Japan and South Korea is particularly fierce, so it is rare for a chess player to hold multiple titles at the same time.
Previously, the only Chinese chess player who held multiple titles was Zhuang Weisheng, who held both the 10th dan and Tianyuan titles. After Zhuang Weisheng lost the title to Zhu Huaian, Zhu Huaian became the only Chinese chess player who held multiple titles.
However, up to now, neither Yu Shao nor Su Yiming has ever played a game of chess with Zhu Huaian.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, everyone noticed that the players from the Northern Division, Western Division, and Eastern Division were walking over together, and they couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
"Teacher Kong Zi and the others are all here together."
Upon hearing this, Yu Shao turned his head and immediately saw several familiar faces.
Although Kong Zi was wearing a black suit, he still had his usual unshaven beard, a burly figure, and looked extremely rugged. He strode in front, while Li Congyou, Qin Lang, and others followed behind Kong Zi.
Of course, in addition to Kong Zi, Zhang Dongchen, Li Congyou, Fu Shunan from the Western Division, and Jiang Changdong, Chang Yan, Chu Jingfeng and others from the Eastern Division were all there.
It can be said that except for a few players who did not sign up for this world championship for various reasons, almost all the top chess players in China have come to this hall.
"You guys came quite early."
Kong Zi quickly took the lead in meeting up with Yu Shao and his group, glanced at Zhuang Weisheng, and spoke.
"You came too late. How come you agreed to come together?" Zhuang Weisheng asked.
"No, we just happened to arrive at the same time, so we came here together." Kong Zi shook his head and said.
The arrival of Kong Zi and others also attracted the attention of other people in the hall. Many people couldn't help but whisper to each other and frequently looked in the direction of the Chinese team. Their expressions were extremely solemn and their eyes were full of fear.
And in this fear... there is even a hint of awe!
The current lineup of the Chinese team is extremely oppressive for professional chess players from most other countries.
Although chess players like Zheng Qin are not well-known internationally and not many people know them, the three words "Chinese Team" are enough to make them regard them as a formidable enemy, and even make them want to retreat involuntarily!
After all, although both of them are entering the title match, the title match of some countries and the title match of some small countries can be said to be not the same thing, and the same is true for the title!
This is the value of being ranked among the top three in the world in comprehensive chess skills!
"Zhuang Weisheng, Kong Zi, Jiang Changdong, Zhu Huaian..."
Inside the hall, a young man with chestnut curly hair looked towards the Chinese team, seemingly feeling a surge of pressure. "Of course, there's also Yu Shao and Su Yiming, who have become incredibly famous this year."
At this moment, another group of chess players walked into the hall one after another, and then walked straight towards the Japanese chess players who had arrived in the hall in advance.
Seeing this group of people coming, the young man with chestnut curly hair suddenly became heavier and kept taking deep breaths, as if trying to relieve the tension and pressure in his heart.
This group of chess players may not seem to have any special features, but there is a sharp edge inadvertently revealed between their brows, as if they have an inexplicable aura that makes people feel pressured.
Wherever they passed, everyone couldn't help but look sideways. Even when they passed by, a few chess players who were closer to them, who obviously would not block their way, couldn't help but take a step back to make way for them.
"The Japanese team is here too."
Zhuang Weisheng looked at the reunited Japanese team, frowned slightly, and spoke.
"Tsk, I thought there would be some new talent emerging and I could fight with new people, but it turns out it's mostly just old faces."
Kong Zi was somewhat disdainful and snorted coldly: "It seems that apart from that kid Dongshan Xun, there are no other rising stars in the Japanese chess world worth noting."
Yu Shao couldn't help but glance at Kong Zi when he heard that, but he found that although Kong Zi said that, he actually crossed his arms across his chest and subconsciously became alert.
Or rather, it wasn't just Kong Zi. When all the members of the Japanese team arrived, the atmosphere in the entire hall became heavier. Everyone became alert, with a look of deep fear on their faces.
"It seems like they are mostly old friends?"
At this moment, a male voice suddenly sounded at the entrance of the hall, and everyone in the audience looked towards the door.
Then, the next moment, a group of North Korean and South Korean chess players walked into the hall together, and the one who spoke just now was a tall, smiling young man in the crowd.
He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, which was considered young among the many chess players in the hall. However, no one dared to underestimate him. On the contrary, everyone treated him as a formidable enemy.
Everyone recognized the young man's identity—
Jiang Hanen!
In the previous two years, he created the myth of being undefeated in foreign wars in the world competition and was hailed as the North Korea-Korea Tiger. Compared with An Hongshi, it is actually Jiang Hanen's two-year undefeated record in foreign wars that makes people more intimidated.
The young man scanned the hall, passing countless people, and finally fixed his gaze in the direction of the Japanese team. After his gaze stayed for a moment, he scanned other people and finally looked at the Chinese team before retracting his gaze.
"Master Sho Misei, Master Honinbo Shin'ai, it's been a long time since we last met."
The young man smiled and waved, greeting the two. "The two games of chess I played with you earlier left a deep impression on me. Perhaps we'll have the chance to play against each other again this time."
Many people noticed the young man's gaze, and when they heard these words, their expressions suddenly became ugly.
"Too arrogant, he doesn't even see us in his sight."
Someone murmured in dissatisfaction: "He only cares about China and Japan, right? Does he also care about the United States?"
"Although the US has seen a surge in outstanding newcomers in recent years, the top players are still far behind those in China and Japan. This was evident from the initial competition. Even if Yu Shao hadn't been there, they wouldn't have won the second match."
The person next to him said solemnly, "And what he said is also a warning to both China and Japan. Sho Misaki and Honinbo Shin'ei both lost to him in their previous games against him."
"At that time, Jiang Hanen hadn't even won a title yet. He was only a ninth dan. Now he has finally won the tenth dan title."
"Of course, it's also true that he doesn't care about us, because he thinks we don't even need to show his power."
He paused, then continued, "Let's see what happens on the chessboard. If I meet him, I'll fight tooth and nail to win. Even with a complicated pattern like a heavy rainstorm, I won't lose if I lose, and I'll make a killing if I win."
There were many people in the audience who shared the same idea as him, but Jiang Hanen seemed unaware of how many enemies he had made with his words, or perhaps he actually knew it very well but just didn't care.
"Yes, I'm also looking forward to playing another game of chess with Jiang Hanen, Tenth Dan. I hope Jiang Hanen, Tenth Dan, won't be eliminated in a civil war before he meets me. I'll be disappointed if that happens."
After hearing what Jiang Hanen said, Honinbo Shingo responded with a forced smile.
Zhuang Weisheng looked at Honinbo Shinkazu with some surprise, because he had wanted to say the same thing just now, but Honinbo Shinkazu said it first, so he had no lines left.
Upon hearing this, the smile on Jiang Hanen's face froze. In the previous two world championships, he was indeed undefeated in foreign matches. No matter how strong the opponent was, he was able to defeat them. It can be said that he shocked the chess world.
However, the so-called undefeated foreign wars, but ultimately failed to win the championship, that naturally means that they lost the civil war.
"Don't be so aggressive right from the start."
At this moment, An Hongshi, who was standing behind Jiang Hanen, smiled and said, "It's been two years since I last competed. I'm very happy to finally have the opportunity to spar with everyone again."
As soon as An Hongshi opened his mouth, everyone's eyes immediately turned to An Hongshi, even Yu Shao was no exception.
In this world, if you pay attention to Go, you will definitely come across the name An Hongshi.
An Hongshi, more than 20 world champions, these few words are enough to describe him. Apart from that, there is no need for any other elaboration about An Hongshi.
Two years ago, An Hongshi, despite his illness, still swept the chess world and won two world championships that year. Later, due to health reasons, he was silent in the chess world for two years. Now he has finally made a comeback.
In fact, many people have doubts about whether An Hongshi can continue his past glory after being silent for two years and whether he still has the same suppression and control power as two years ago.
And this Phoenix Cup World Championship may be An Hongshi's answer.
"snort."
Jiang Hanen snorted coldly, perhaps to give face to An Hongshi, and did not fight back against Honinbo Shingo. He followed the other North and South Korean chess players to the seats reserved for North and South Korean chess players in the hall, waiting for the opening ceremony.
As the opening ceremony drew closer, chess players came into the hall in groups.
Germany, Hans...
The American team, Ma Dong, Xi Rui...
Among almost every group of chess players that come to the hall, there are always one or two players whose names are well-known to everyone. They will instantly attract the attention of the whole audience and cause quite a stir.
Perhaps the overall chess strength of some countries is not strong, but the strongest among them are qualified to compete with top-notch players for the championship, which is itself a legend!
One, two, three...
Finally, when all the participating players arrived and no more players entered the hall, the originally noisy hall suddenly became inexplicably quiet for some unknown reason.
Some chess players from small countries looked at the countless top-notch chess players standing densely packed in the hall, and felt deeply insignificant.
Here, you can almost find a player whose name appears in introductory Go books such as "Eighteen Lectures on Go" at random.
The best-selling Go book in recent years is "Dream into the Divine Machine", which records the famous games in modern times that have impressed Go players all over the world. Every game is ingenious, with brilliant moves and wonderful tricks, as if it were carved by a divine axe.
Therefore, the title of this book is "Dreaming into the Divine Machine", because only in dreaming can one dream of a chess game that is so full of divine machines.
However, the players of eight out of ten famous games in the book, as well as the winners and losers, can all be found in this hall!
"Sho Misaki, Yasu Hiroseki, Honinbo Shin'ai, Hans, Shiri..."
Seeing chess players whose names represent legends appear in front of them one after another, they couldn't help but have similar thoughts as Zheng Qin!
There are countless immortals!
This makes them feel endless pressure, and their ambitions are growing wildly in secret!
Many heroes compete for supremacy, this is the pinnacle event in the chess world!
Seeing one brilliant name after another, they certainly feel an unprecedented sense of oppression, but this is also an opportunity for them to stand out and rise from obscurity!
In many small countries, even if they win the title, no one will care. The World Championship is also an opportunity for them to loudly tell the world their name through chess games!
Time passes by every second.
The entire hall became increasingly quiet, and everyone looked preoccupied.
Facing the highest stage of the World Championship, even many title holders have an unconcealable nervousness on their faces.
Finally, about ten minutes later, an old man in his seventies with gray hair and a strong body slowly walked onto the big stage at the front of the hall under the gaze of everyone.
Although it was the first time that Yu Shao saw this old man, he had seen him too many times in news reports and recognized his identity at a glance.
Ma Zhengyu's immediate superior, Zhao Zhengyang, is the president of the five major chess academies in China and the chairman of the Northern Chess Academy. He was a chess player who held the three titles of Chess Saint, Tianyuan, and National Master more than 40 years ago.
Xu Zijin had previously talked about the story of Japanese female chess player Rika Konishi, 9th dan, competing for the first women's world championship. Rika Konishi was as capable as any man and swept countless top male players.
At that time, there were two obstacles blocking Xiao Xilizi's way, and one of them was the old man in front of him, Zhao Zhengyang.
Another obstacle is the North Korean and South Korean chess player Sun Shangxun.
At that time, it was said that Zhao Zhengyang and Sun Shangxun had a fierce dispute. There were even rumors that the two had a fight after playing chess. It was not known whether it was true or not.
Of course, these events happened many years ago. As far as Yu Shao knows, Zhao Zhengyang is probably no match for Zheng Qin now.
Zhao Zhengyang glanced around the hall, his gaze fixed on the Chinese team for a moment before he finally withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, "My name is Zhao Zhengyang. I believe everyone should know me."
"I'm here to welcome everyone to Phoenix Ancient Town to participate in this Phoenix Cup World Championship!"
(End of this chapter)
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