At the age of 38, he went to college and his children were classmates.

Chapter 252, Sweeping Away the Opponent! (Please Subscribe)

While netizens were making jokes, the number of viewers in the live stream was increasing rapidly.

Soon, the number of online users increased from over a thousand to over ten thousand.

Shen Qiushan naturally had no idea what was happening in the live broadcast room. He only knew that ever since he was recognized by the organizers, the young girl in charge of the live broadcast had been by his side, and the camera had never left him.

The results of the quarterfinals are in.

Shen Qiushan's opponent was a middle-aged man with a plump figure named Guo Xingwang. Not only was he chubby, but he also had a smiling face that gave people a feeling of being smiling no matter who he looked at.

Shen Qiushan didn't know Guo Xingwang, but some netizens in the live stream recognized him.

"It was supposed to be an amateur competition! Retired professional players can participate too?"

"Smiling Buddha Lao Guo! It's a bit unfair for someone who has won the national championship to participate in the Qingyang Cup!"

"It seems Old Shen will be eliminated in the top eight. The Smiling Buddha's participation in the amateur competition is simply a case of being outclassed!"

"The 50 yuan prize money for the champion is too attractive; even Lao Guo is no longer holding back!"

"Brothers, do you think Old Shen can get lucky and win a game?"

"Win my ass! You're using your hobby to challenge someone's profession. You have absolutely no chance of winning, unless Lao Guo deliberately lets you win!"

"."

There are already more than 20,000 people watching the live stream.

Given such a large number of cases, it's not surprising that Guo Xingwang, a former professional player and even a national champion, was recognized.

In fact, five of the eight finalists were retired professional players.

Just like netizens have said, the 500,000 yuan prize money for the champion is too tempting!

These former professional players, while not exactly living in poverty after retirement, are certainly not wealthy. Apart from a few who manage to work for professional clubs, most of them either start their own schools or become chess teachers at training institutions.

However, most parents know how to play chess, and the rules are relatively simple, so not many children actually enroll in chess classes. It's a niche market, so the income is naturally not that much.

Against this backdrop, participating in high-paying amateur tournaments has become one way for retired professional players to make money.

The total prize money for the Qingyang Cup is one million yuan, with the champion taking home 500,000 yuan. This prize money is comparable to some professional tournaments, which naturally attracts a large number of retired professional players like Guo Xingwang.

Shen Qiushan had never paid attention to the field of chess and did not know Guo Xingwang at all. He just thought that this guy looked very kind and always had a smiling face.

The quarterfinals are a best-of-seven series, with the first player to win four games advancing to the semifinals.

The first game between the two players began.

As a former national champion, Guo Xingwang certainly didn't take Shen Qiushan seriously. He habitually stroked his chin with one hand and quickly placed his piece almost without thinking.

However, as the game unfolded, Guo Xingwang, who had been nonchalant, began to look serious, and a conflicted expression appeared on his signature smiling face.

"Wow, Old Shen's skill level is pretty good! He can actually go toe-to-toe with the Smiling Buddha!"

"Is Lao Guo underestimating his opponent? It seems like he's already at a disadvantage!"

"Teacher Shen is really something to have made it to the quarterfinals. It's really hard to say who will win this match!"

"Teacher Shen is too versatile. It's one thing to be able to write books, but he can also write songs, and he's also so good at chess."

The live broadcast room was bustling with activity.

The game of chess changed as everyone discussed it, and Shen Qiushan suddenly launched a series of fierce attacks.

Guo Xingwang's cart and horse were eaten, and the situation completely turned in Shen Qiushan's favor, and the outcome was quickly decided.

"Holy crap! Old Shen actually won!"

"1-0! Old Shen is awesome!!"

"He even beat retired professional players! No wonder he was the top scorer in the college entrance exam, his brain is really sharp!"

"Who just said that Teacher Shen couldn't win?"

"Why isn't Lao Guo smiling anymore? Does he not like to smile?"

"I feel like Lao Guo underestimated his opponent this round. He probably didn't expect Shen Qiushan to be so strong!"

Amid the discussions among netizens.

The second game begins.

Having learned from the previous game, Guo Xingwang was much more cautious in his moves. He himself felt that he had underestimated his opponent and lost the first game. His original plan was to win quickly and defeat Shen Qiushan in the shortest possible time, leaving time and energy to prepare for the semi-finals.

In Guo Xingwang's plan, Shen Qiushan, a purely amateur player, could not pose any threat to him. His real opponents were the retired professional players like himself.

So, when Guo Xingwang learned that his opponent in the quarterfinals was Shen Qiushan, he secretly rejoiced for a moment. He felt that he had drawn a very favorable draw and could easily win against his opponent, thus focusing more on the later matches.

To my utter surprise, we lost the very first game!

It seems that making it to the quarterfinals wasn't just a matter of luck!
Guo Xingwang was on high alert, thinking he should try to win back a game first.

To his shock, even though he had given it his all, he still couldn't gain any advantage.

The game was very close from the start, and Guo Xingwang tried to set traps several times, but Shen Qiushan easily thwarted them.

Has this guy really never played professionally?

Just as Shen Qiushan didn't know Guo Xingwang, he didn't know Shen Qiushan either.

Although the name sounded somewhat familiar, he couldn't connect his opponent with that famous writer at all.

He was unaware that over 20,000 people were watching his game of chess with Shen Qiushan.

General!

Shen Qiushan seized the opportunity and launched a series of offensives.

Guo Xingwang couldn't withstand this wave of attacks and lost the second game.

"It's 2-0!"

"Old Shen won again!"

"Teacher Shen is awesome!"

"Didn't you say that Teacher Shen's opponent was a national champion? How come he's so bad?"

"Is it possible that it's not that Lao Guo's cooking is bad, but that Teacher Shen is just too good!"

"Wow, no wonder he's the man I like, he's so good at chess!"

"..."

Shen Qiushan won the second game, and the live broadcast room erupted in excitement once again.

Guo Xingwang frowned as he carefully examined Shen Qiushan, but he had no recollection of the man at all.

"Hey bro, which team are you on?"

"I've never seen you before!"

Before the third round began, Guo Xingwang couldn't help but ask.

"From the Sanjiang University Electronic Science and Technology Competition Team."

Shen Qiushan replied with a smile.

Who told you to ask me which team I'm from?
I only have this one team!

"What team?"

Guo Xingwang raised an eyebrow, having never heard of the team Shen Qiushan had just mentioned.

Does Sanjiang University also have a chess team?

Guo Xingwang was quite familiar with the name "Sanjiang University," so he asked about it out of curiosity.

"Yes, of course!"

Shen Qiushan nodded slightly. Of course Sanjiang University has a chess club. His answer was perfectly correct.

Turns out he was an elite member of the university's chess team!

Guo Xingwang nodded slightly, having figured out the other party's "background". Even if he really lost in the end, he would die knowing the truth.

The third and fourth games followed almost the same script. In the early stages, the two sides were still deadlocked, but as the game progressed, Shen Qiushan was always able to seize Guo Xingwang's weaknesses and use them as a starting point to quickly win the game.

"4-0!!"

"Old Shen is really amazing!"

"Go, Teacher Shen! I hope you win the championship!"

"I did expect a 4-0 score, but I thought Lao Guo would eliminate Shen Qiushan 4-0, but the result was the opposite!"

"Old Guo was actually eliminated, and swept out of the competition! He probably never dreamed he'd lose so badly in an amateur tournament!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)