Okay, are you ready? Listen, our protagonist today is Xu Haohong, he is not an ordinary person! This guy not only swept the crowd at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and won the individual gold medal, but was also awarded a special wild card for the LG Cup, becoming the first non-Korean chess player in history to win this honor. Do you say cow or not?
Let's talk about what this wild card is. The LG Cup is not a small game on the side of the road, but one of the highlights of the Go world. Since the 22nd edition, the organizing committee has set up such a place, usually for those who are particularly influential or outstanding players, you see, this time it is our turn Xu Haohong.
Let's recap, Xu Haohong really had a lot of fun at the Asian Games, and he killed top masters such as Shibano Toramaru, Park Tinghuan, Shin Zhenzhen, and Ke Jie one after another, which was like hanging up. On top of that, the treasure island powerhouse has won 33 titles internationally and seven times, which is a well-deserved quality.
Let's take a look at the competitors of the LG Cup this time, Xu Haohong must have been fully prepared. There were some bigwigs with byes in the first round, such as Shen Zhenzhen and Ke Jie, who were all the top four in the last competition. This means that Xu Haohong may need to face other hard stubble. The tournament kicked off on May 19 at the Gwangju Kunjiam Resort in Gyeonggi Province, followed by a fierce showdown between the round of 24 and the round of 16.
Let's talk about the other contestants. South Korea came with 13 strong players, China 6, Japan 3, plus another player from Chinese Taipei, Lai Junfu, this face is comparable to the Avenue of Stars. Everyone is the best player in their country, and every game can change the trend of the whole game.
When it comes to bonuses, that's not a small amount. The champion will receive 300 million won, the runner-up will also receive 100 million, and even the semi-final player will receive 24 million won. The rules of the game are also strict, with each player having 3 hours to consider and no more than 40 seconds to make sure that every move stands up to scrutiny.
Historically, South Korea has won the LG Cup 13 times, followed by China with 12 titles. Although Japan and Chinese Taipei have not won many championships, they have shown good competitive form every time they participate. Now, the participation of two Taiwanese chess players, Xu Haohong and Lai Junfu, has undoubtedly added more highlights to the competition.
Don't underestimate this wild card opportunity, it is not only a recognition of Xu Haohong's strength, but also an opportunity to show his strength on the world stage. It's not just a place in the tournament, it's the greatest affirmation of all the hard work and persistence of a chess player.
As for the specifics and stats of the competition, we will have to wait until the official start of the competition to find out. But what is certain is that it will be a highlight-reel matchup, and every move, every decision, could be the key to winning the match. Let's wait and see if Xu Haohong can prove himself again in this international event and win more honors and prize money.