This group represents a high plateau of skills. They are all killers, but also
very solid. They can all mount the long, bitter defences that give Xiangqi much of
its character. By contrast, Vietnam's brilliant Cao Khoa DAO simply loses too many
games. In his native Hanoi, DAO is the solid one. Now he must learn to survive at
a higher level.
It is unlikely that WU is too much concerned with comparing himself to this group.
He wants to reach the next plateau, the level of China's grandmasters. WU already
has an international GM title, but this only establishes him as a potential member
of the elite group. Toronto champion, Phuc NGUYEN, who spent time with WU at Forshang,
estimates that it would take five games for a Chinese GM to show his superiority
over WU. One game could go either way.
Wu has already had a slow, hard struggle. At the 1995 World Cup, he served notice
by beating reigning Chinese champion, Han Ming TAO. Then more powerful Qin LU knocked
him back to earth, and won the tournament. At the 1997 World Cup, WU lost to China's
two top superstars: LU, and Yin Chuan XU. (The LU-WU game is featured in a 9 February 2000
post by Bich Ho TRAN on rec.games.chinese-chess.)
This is exactly what WU does not want: to be a "rabbit", a sure victim, for the
Chinese GMs. This explains the importance of his undefeated score at the 1999 World
Cup. He finished in his normal third place, but drew against both XU and Wen Qing
YAN. His gigantic 167-move defensive battle against XU probably mattered more than
all his wins.
The Forshang Cup is put on by Taiwanese interests, partly to give Asian masters
a chance to gain experience. Unfortunately, a dispute between the Xiangqi officialdoms
of Taiwan and China caused China’s withdrawal in 1998, and non-participation in
1999. The dispute involves Taiwan’s sovereignty, and mirrors the larger dispute
being waged at the high government level.
 |
|
Kui Lin WU
|
This doesn’t stop WU from being good friends with China’s players. And it didn’t
stop the great Rong Hua HU from presenting one of WU’s wins on Chinese TV after
the Shanghai tournament. But the Forshang problem is hurting WU more than anyone
else. He needs to play the Chinese GMs as often as possible. In fact, what the game
itself needs, perhaps more than anything else, is a Chinese circuit that welcomes
talented foreigners.
-Bill Brydon
Solid Play Prevails
analysis by Yu Ying HUANG
WU’s seventh-round show-down with Cao Khoa DAO,
in algebraic
(click here to read more about the algebraic notation) or
WXF notation, was
one of his toughest tests in 1999. It took place during the knock-out portion of
the tournament: defeat meant no chance for first place. Game one was drawn, with
DAO playing Red. The second was a speed game: fifteen minutes, and then 10 moves
every three minutes.
Former world women’s champion, Yu Ying HUANG was
watching. She says: "The two guys were very nervous. Their hands were shaking, and
their faces were red."
Wu avoided a move repetition in adventurous fashion,
and then sacrificed a chariot for two minor pieces. In Xiangqi, this is a serious step:
the chariot is very strong. But WU apparently cruised to victory, gaining a large material
advantage, and setting up an attack. Finally DAO blundered with 31... R4+3, and
lost a chariot.
I posted this game on the Chinese chess newsgroup,
and Vinh-Tuong HUYNH responded: "DAO made a mistake at the 31st move .....!!! He
should play 31... R4-2." He pointed out that Black’s heavy pieces are strong, and asked
for my comment. I suggested 31... K5=6. We were both wrong.
When I took the game to HUANG, she glanced at the
board, and said: "Dao should have played 31... R4-2. I saw this at the time! WU
says that Red is better, but I think Black has play." With the help of Stephen Fung,
she worked out the following line:
(in
java window)
