1. C2=5 H8+7 2. H2+3 P7+1
This is the first game played between the two Grand Masters in the finals of the BGN World Xiangqi Challenge. The Qualifier had a participation of 32 players. Through 4 rounds of a hard-fought battle, they finally entered into the finals. Now, only two moves were just played. However, from his move of P7+1, we can see that Black was well prepared for this game. By playing P7+1, it can prevent Red from taking the opening of "the Central Cannon and the 3rd file Pawn", or the opening of "edge Horse, 5th and 7th file Cannons", forcing the game lead to the opening as designed by him.

3. R1=2 R9=8 4. R2+6 H2+3
5. H8+7 P3+1 6. R9+1 C2+1
Now, the game has become the opening of " Central Cannon, File and Rank Chariots vs. Screen Horses". Black's C2+1 is a very popular variation nowadays. If he played A4+5, then R9=6, H7+6, P5+1, R7+1, R2=4, H6+7, H3+5, Red would have the initiative.

7. R2-2 E3+5 8. P7+1 C8+2
9. R9=6 A4+5 10. R6+7 R1=3
Red R1=3 is an innovation in the qualifier of the BGN Challenge. Here, some people used to play R6+5, Black would play C2-3, then R6=7, R1+2. After that, Black could move the Cannon to the 3rd file, putting more pressure on Red 7th file.

Black's R1=3 can be regarded as a new variation after he has summed up his experience in the competition. In the Qualifier, Black played R1=4, then Red R6=7, R4=3, R7+1, E5-3, P3+1. Red stood better. How is the move of Black's R1=3? It can be tested by the actual competition.

11. P3+1 P3+1
If Red played P7+1, Black could have enough time to adjust his battle formation by playing C8=3. After the exchange of Chariots, Black could gain the initiative as Red Elephant at the base is under menace. If Black played P7+1, then Red R2=3, H7+6, R6=8, Red stands better when Black's Cannon is under the fire.

12. P3+1 P3+1 13. H7-5 E5+7
14. R2=7 E7-5 15. H3+4 C8=3
From Red play of H3+4, we can see that Xu Yingchuan can take the whole situation into account. If he played R7-1, Black would play C8=3, then R6-2, H3-1, H3+4, Black can also play H7+6. If Red played R6=5, Black would play H6+4, after that Black can play H4-2.

16. R6-2 H3-1 17. C5=4 R3=4

At the situation as shown in the diagram: Red plays C5=4, showing his style of stable and safe play. However, when Red central Cannon was moved away, it gives Tao Hanming a chance of playing H7+8 to exchange Horse. Following are lines of this variation: if Black played H7+8, Red would play:
The move of R3=4 proves that Black tries to maintain a stable and safe play in the first game. Before the start of the first game, Tao Hanming had the priority in choosing the colour through the drawing of lots. However, he chose to play black in the first game, showing that he wanted to draw the first game. If so, he could have more space of development in the following games.

18. R6+3 A5-4 19. R7-1 H1+3
20. R7+1 R8+1
By playing R8+1, Black is ready to play Chariot sideward for rendering support to his right wing. If he changed to play R8+8, Red would play H5+6 (If Red C8-1, Black would play R8-7, and R8=4 in his next move. Red 8th file Cannon is in a poor position), C2=3, R7=8, C3+6, A6+5, After sacrificing his Elephant, Red stands better.

21. E3+5 R8=4 22. H5+3 A4+5
Black's A4+5 can be considered as the first soft move. The active play should be R4+7. Following that, if Red played A6+5 (or if E7+9, H3+4, the position is simplified after the Horses are exchanged), Black could play A4+5. The situation is acceptable to him.

23. A4+5 R4+7 24. E7+9 R4-6
25. C8=6 C3=6
After retreating his Chariot, Black's motivation is very clear that he is ready to play H3+4 for exchanging the Horse. Red's move C8=6 looks flat, it demonstrates Red skill in the game. In the subsequent moves, Red could play C4+1, and retreat his Horse to chase Black Chariot.

26. C4+3 H7+6 27. R7=8 C2+1
If he change to play C2-3, Red would play R8-1, then C2=4, H4-6, H6+4, R8+5, H3=2, Red has got the initiative as Black's pieces are under containment.
28. R8-1 R4-2 29. E9-7 P9=1
If he changed to play R4+5, Red would play R8=7, then C2=3, H4-6, Black would suffer from a material lose.

30. P9+1 R4=2 31. R8=7 C2=3
32. H4-6 R2+4 33. H3+4 P1+1
By playing his Horse, Red could have linked Horses.

34. P9=1 R2=1 35. R7+1 R1=2
36. E5-3 H3+1 37. R7=9 H1-3
Black intends to play C3-4 after H3-1 and then to drive his edge Horse out for adjusting his battle formation. Therefore, it is quite necessary for Red to chase Black Horse by playing R7=9.

38. C6=5 C3=5 39. H6+5 P5+1
40. H4-6 R2=4
The time control for this tournament is 40 moves in the first 90 minutes, and then 10 moves for the next 15 minutes. If the time limit is exceeded, the offending side will lose the game. Now, as both sides had little time left in the first time-control period, they couldn't have enough time to calculate. If had enough time, Black could consider in playing H6+5, then, H6+5, H5-6, R9+5, R2-4, R9-2, H3+4, H5+4, K5=4, C5=6, H4-3. Both sides would have more rooms for maneuvering.

41. R9-1 H3+2 42. R9=8 H2+4
43. R8+6 A5-4
A5-4 is a variation designed by Black for achieving an incidental draw. However, it became a cat's paw for Red. The better play for Black is R4-4, then, R8=6, A5-4, C5+3, A4+5, C5=1, H6+5. The game will lead to an end game of "single Horse, Cannon and Pawn vs. double Horses and full guards", in which Black has more chance in making a draw.

44. C5=6 H6+5??
Black has lost the chance of making a draw after playing H6+5. The correct move is R4=1, then, C5=6, A6+5, C6+2 (R8-5, H4+6, R8=4, P5+1, R4-1, P5+1, Sacrificing first but gaining later, Black can share an equal position with Red), R1=4, R8-5, P5+1. Black can easily make a draw.

45. H6+8 H4+2 46. H8+6 H2+4
47. A5+6 H5-4 48. R8-4 H4+5
49. R8=5 H5-7 50. R5=3 H7+6
By playing R5=3, Red can attack Black's two pieces, which was overlooked by Black.

51. K5+1 A6+5 52. R3-3 H6-5
Red finds it difficult to win the game though he has got the chance to win. He must play very accurately. The following moves in the end game fully displays Xu Yingchuan's skill in the end game. Red shouldn't avoid to play hastily R3=1, as Black could respond with H7+8, then P1+1, H8-7, After Black's exchange of Pawn with his Horse, the game quickly lead to a draw.

53. R3=2 H5+7 54. R2+1 H7-6
55. E7+5 H6-7 56. E5+3 H7+6
57. K5-1 H6-7 58. E3+1 H7+6
By playing Chariot, Red has put Black pawn under control. Red is now going to play his Elephant to expose his King, so as to put Black King under control, making preparations for his victory.

59. R2+2 H6+7 60. R2-2 H7-5
61. K5+1 H5-6 62. E3-5 A5+4
63. R2+1 A4+5
Step by step, Red has put the whole situation under his control.

64. K5-1 K5=4 65. E5-3 K4=5
66. A6+5 K5=4 67. A5+4 K4=5
68. A6-5 K5=4 69. A5-4 K4=5
70. K5=6 K5=4
Black's pieces are under the containment of Red King, it is now ripe for Red to launch the final offensive.

71. R2=8 H6+8
If Black played K4=5, Red would play R8+5, then A5-4, R8-4, H6-8, R8=2, After Red has taken the Black Pawn, Red has secured a winning position.

72. R8+5 K4+1 73. R8-1 K4-1
74. R8=5 H8+9 75. R5=8 H9-8
76. R8+1 K4+1 77. R8-3 K4=5
78. R8=6 H8-7 79. R6+1 H7+5
For the end game of "single Chariot vs. Horse, Pawn and double Elephants", Black could make a draw only when his Pawn is at the riverbank, and the Horse is at "high Elephant" position, as it can protect the promoted Pawn.

80. R6-2 P9+1 81. R6=5 H5+7
82. E1+3 H7-6 83. R5=4 H6+8
84. R4=2 H8-6 85. K6=5 P9=8
The central file takes a very important position at the end game. The attack side should strive to occupy the central file with his King or Chariot.

86. E3-1 P8+1 87. R2-2 H6+5
88. R2=5 H5-6
The diagram shows the only position that BlackĄ¯s Horse and double Elephants can make a draw vs. Red single Chariot. Now, Black finds it difficult to adjust the position, Red can win the game with the following moves:
89. E1+3 H6+8 90. E3+1 H8-6
91. R5+3 H6+7 92. R5-1 H7-6
93. R5=4 H6+8 94. R4+1 H8+9
95. R4=8 K5=4 96. R8=6 K4=5
97. R6+3
Red Wins. If Black plays E7+9, Red will play R6=1 to take Black Elephant.