Lian Xiao said that Tongli is his blessed place. “The air and various environments are very good. I feel at ease when I come to Tongli.” In this blessed place last night, the 30-year-old Lian Xiao said “Xiao Xiao again” after five years. ", regaining the title of Tianyuan. This is also the second time that Tianyuan Tianyuan has won the championship in the China Go Tianyuan Championship after Ma Xiaochun won Tianyuan again at 9th Dan in 1994.
Caption: Lian Xiao wins the Tianyuan title again. Photographed by Xinmin Evening News reporter Zhang Long
is much loved
With a shallow smile, a gentle personality, Lian Xiao’s temperament is particularly suitable for Tongli, a water town.
Three years ago, the Tianyuan semi-finals were arranged in Tongli for the first time. Lian Xiao and Gu Zihao fought from noon to sunset. Looking out the window of Tianyi Pavilion, there were already thousands of lights outside, and the waiter holding the tea cup was so nervous. They were all sweating: "It's best if Lianxiao wins."
The second game of the finals ended the day before yesterday. In the Tianyi Pavilion, the waiter was counting on his fingers. This was the first time Lianxiao had a chance to come from behind. "I remember in the previous games, when he played against Xie Ke and Fan Yunruo, he lost the first set and then came back." The girl's meaning was very clear. Lian Xiao was good at attacking from behind. Since he won the second set this time, The hope of regaining the championship is not small.
The girl’s support for Lian Xiao is not superstitious. Hu Yaoyu, who gave a live chess lecture, made eight comments and said that he played well in the second game, especially in the second half of the game. After the decisive game yesterday, the girl solemnly took out the fan she had prepared, asked her to smile again, and left Tian Yuan's signature.
Caption: Lian Xiao (right) plays against Mi Yuting. Photo by Xinmin Evening News reporter Li Mingshen
Once during the Tianyuan Tournament, the top four chess players and the reigning Tianyuan interacted with local chess players. In the final session, one of them was invited to play coaching. The name Wang Runan, the honorary chairman of the Chinese Go Association, drew out, still laughed. Wang Lao said with a smile: When you come to Tongli, just keep laughing.
That day Wang Runan, Hua Xueming and other Go veterans had finished playing. The fierce battle in Lianxiao's game was still going on. Chess players gathered around one after another, and the atmosphere was particularly lively. At the end of the chess game, when he learned that his opponent had won the top six in the Suzhou Chess King Tournament, Lian Xiao said humbly: "It's not easy for me to give up two pieces." Everyone then congratulated one after another, and this chess friend told the truth. Lian Tianyuan was polite, but later he made new changes and he was no longer able to resist. A Go coach who came from Wujiang wanted to bring back a gift for a young student. Lian Xiao took the pen and Gong Gongzheng signed his name on the chess board, making the other person very happy, "I will tell the children when I get back. Whoever gets promoted to 5th rank first will be given this precious gift.
Still a boy
Picture caption: Lian Xiao
Familiar friends said that Lian Xiao has a "youthful feeling" about him. In response to this topic, Lian Xiao’s own understanding was particularly interesting. “Now when I compete, I find that the players around me are all younger than me. I have become one of the oldest buddies, and I still feel a little uncomfortable.” He said, feeling I am still 20 years old, and my mental age has not kept pace with my physical age. "I feel that I am not that old yet."
This state is not a childish refusal to grow up, but a way to retain the youthful atmosphere and turn it into a simple and light one. Attitude, use the vision of 20 years old to sharpen the mind of 30 years old.
Lian Xiao considers himself not a diligent chess player, but when he came to Tongli, his beloved ancient town, he had no idea of going to play. "I entered three finals in 2021, but lost them all. After that, I never entered the finals again. Now that I have entered the finals again after three years, I will definitely go all out." He explained, "I feel very excited now. , I finally came back, and I can experience the excitement of the finals again. "
"But in the finals, Lian Xiao is not as nervous as when he was 20, because the desire to win is not as strong as before. "Crying after losing chess? Of course not. If you win a runner-up in a domestic competition, it's just a runner-up. It's no big deal." After saying that, he laughed. This seems, and indeed, looks like a 30-year-old man.
Caption: Lian Xiao in the game
When he won the championship trophy last night, Lian Xiao was still in a daze."After playing chess, I thought about it. The last time I won the title of Tianyuan was actually at this time in 2019." He said that he suddenly couldn't believe that it was already five years since he came back as the champion. "It's not the same as now." If you compare, I must have been at the peak of my competitive life at that time. Now I am 30 years old, and I feel like I am in my twilight years as a chess player. "Because of this, Lian Xiao is very excited to stand on the throne of Tianyuan again," It is a great encouragement to me. I feel that I can continue to work hard and keep playing chess." (Xinmin Evening News reporter Hua Xinyi Jin Lei Tongli reported today)
Voiceover | Wuyan Chimu
After 30 years. , Lianxiao copied Ma Xiaochun’s legend. At the award ceremony last night, some people in the chess industry pointed out that copying is not objective: at that time, domestic competitions were basically monopolized by the three "Nie Ma Liu". In the first ten competitions after the establishment of the China Tianyuan Tournament in 1987, three Everyone takes turns to be the banker, so Ma Xiaochun returned to the final and won the title again, which is more due to his strength; now the chess world is blooming, and the top dozens of chess players in terms of level are all among the best, and the players born after 1998 and 2000 have won With more championships to come, Lian Xiao's ability to fight his way out of the fiercely competitive five rounds of this competition and then defeat the defending champions who were waiting for work is called nirvana and can be said to be writing a new history.
Caption: Lian Xiao (right) plays against Mi Yuting
After hearing that Lian Xiao said that he was late, Chang Hao, the world champion and chairman of the Chinese Go Association, refused. "I don't even dare to say Chi Mu here, because Mr. Wang (Wang Runan), Mr. Hua (Hua Yigang), and Mr. Xiao Hua (Hua Xueming) are all here." Chang Hao and Lian Xiao joked, "Although you won the championship I must congratulate you, but I think you are still very young." Chang Hao won his first world championship in the Yingshi Cup at the age of 29 and won the World Series trophy at the age of 33. He came to refute Lian Xiao. The theory of "lateness" is completely convincing. Chang Hao said that chess players who are over 30 years old may not be able to be as immersed in training as they were when they were young because they have too many complicated things to deal with, but this does not mean that they lack competitiveness. Chang Hao sent a message to Mi Yuting who was next to Lian Xiao: "So Xiao Mi, don't be discouraged. Lian Xiao became the first chess player to return to Tongli to regain Tianyuan. I think there will be a second time after the first time." This time, you have to keep working hard. I hope you can carry on this good momentum and achieve good results in more world competitions and win glory for the country.” (Jin Lei)
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