Road to be the Best Chess Player in the World!-Chapter 544: Timeskip-Preparation for the Next Tournament!

"So, Nayaka is the only one who can come, and you two won’t be able to be here to join the fun?" Sheva asked, trying to hide the slight pang of disappointment inside him.

"I am so sorry, Brother Sheva! I still have a school exam two weeks later, and my mom would never allow me to go!" Devi said on the other side of the phone, full of apology.

"Me as well, Brother Sheva." Duta sung the same tone. "While home schooling is not that strict, but I still have to follow the normal school’s schedule for the National Examination next month. My mother is basically locking all the chess related stuff and would never let them see the light before everything is over."

It was the start of May, and the Asian Championship Zone 3.3 was about to begin in two days. Sheva tried to connect with his three students to inquire whether they were able to come or not, but it seemed that only one of them was available. Ironically enough, that one person, Nayaka, was the one who lived the furthest from Jakarta, about 860 km away from the capital city.

Still, even though Sheva was disappointed, he could understand their points. After all, Devi and Duta were in their final year in middle school, and there were so many things to prepare to enter the high school stage. Even though they were outstanding students with an international trophy in their respective hand, that still didn’t exempt them from this arduous process.

Honestly, they were unlucky here because Laysa, Anna, and Claudia also faced the same problem. However, those three lived in Jakarta, the place where the tournament would be held, so there was still a room for them to maneuver here.

As for Nayaka... Well, he was in his sophomore year in high school, so it was easier for him to ask for a permission here. His face popped in the four-way video call as he grinned widely—too wide, even, as if mocking his two friends’ misfortune.

"Don’t worry, Brother Sheva! Me alone is enough! I also want to see the new gazebo in your house directly! I only saw it from the photo before, but I am sure that it will be amazing!"

Sheva could only smile wryly, noticing the gloat on the boy’s tone. Not to him, of course, but to the two friends who had to be satisfied with watching the fun from afar. True enough, Devi’s face was green in envy, while Duta made some rude hand gestures to the older boy who just chackled loudly at their antics.

"Anyway, let’s forget about Brother Nay’s pompous arse for now—"

"HEY!"

"—Brother Sheva, are you going to play in that tournament as well?" Devi ignored Nayaka’s loud complain, asking directly to Sheva. "Because, let’s be sure here, it would be unfair for anyone else if you are in this category, right?"

"Don’t say things like that. It is not like it is absolute that I will win. There are still some strong players here, like Tin Jingyao from Singapore or Le Tuan Minh from Vietnam. Hell, Master Susanto still also have the probability to make a surprise, you know?" Sheva retorted.

In return, Devi just gave him a blank stare, while the two boys snorted in amusement, clearly not believing any nonsense being spouted out of his mouth. Sheva flushed for a moment, realizing that, indeed, he was being too humble here, which only looked arrogant for them all.

He couldn’t deny that he was the favorite here, from the rating wise to the ability wise. In fact, he only had two competitors here, which were Tin Jingyao, the Singaporean GM with an ELO rating of 2572, and Le Tuan Minh from Vietnam with an ELO rating of 2544.

However, the boost he received from three titles: The National Resonance, The King of Asia, and The Strong Man’s Aura, would be enough to put him at the level of Magnus Carlsen just in this tournament, and no matter how strong his opponent was, he shouldn’t be able to find any problem here.

"Well... I know it is unfair with me joining, but I cannot help it." Sheva sighed helplessly. "I am currently at the place where my rating is not enough to get me qualified through that path, but is still too high for anyone else in this tournament to reach me. If only my rating is high enough, I will be happy to let anyone else win the tournament."

They chatted more for a while, with Sheva and Nayaka dominating the conversation as the latter was inquiring about what to prepare for this tournament. The other two could only bite their lips bitterly, knowing that they had no room in this conversation.

As everything was over, Sheva checked the time, just to find that it was still evening, and the sun was still hanging low in the sky. Thinking for a second, he took his phone out of his pocket and texted quickly.

You: Hey, anyone wants to prepare for the tournament together?

He didn’t need to wait for too long because a few seconds later, two answers popped up instantly on his chat.

Laysa: Sure! I still have to learn more about Peter Svidler’s course that you recommended.

Claudia: Big Sis and I will be there in five minutes! I want aunty’s curry puff!

Laysa: Hey, I want something sweet as well!

Sheva could feel the corner of his lips twitching as he read that. In the last two months, those three girls had been constant presences in his house, with them barging in almost on a daily basis. It wasn’t just for chess, but sometimes, when they needed room to study, they would just come and borrow the gazebo.

His mother didn’t really object the intrusion. Hell, if anything, she was ecstatic for it, finding herself enjoying the lively atmosphere there. That was why no one was embarrassed to make such an outrageous request like that.

’Oh, well... Better ask Mom first if the stock is still there, or they would only whine about it later.’

-Author’s note-

Hey, everyone! Thank you for supporting my story! I have written a new one with the hope of getting a contract for that story as well, the title is ’The Rise of the Iron Wall!’. It is a football story, so if you like, please give your support by adding it to your collection and giving your power stone to that story! Thanks!