Road to be the Best Chess Player in the World!-Chapter 504: Target

"What do you mean the training camp is over, Brother Sheva?!" Devi slammed the table hard, staring at Sheva in despair and disbelief. "You know that we have just gotten a grasp of our new style, right?! You cannot do that to us!" The girl cried.

"Well, what can I do? You know that I have a tournament to play, right?" Sheva smiled wryly. It was three days before he had to go to Prague, so he wouldn’t be able to amuse them anymore. "Also, you are just ten days away from the tournament, right? Don’t get stuck in front of the chessboard all the time. Go back home and spend your time with your family. Trust me, you three need it."

Even though the three teenagers wanted to disagree, they couldn’t, knowing that Sheva was right. However, that didn’t mean they were willing to accept it, especially since those three realized how big of an improvement they received after getting under Sheva’s guidance.

"I tell you what, your tournament’s schedule is intersected with mine, with my tournament ending on your fourth day of the tournament. After everything is over for my part, I will fly directly to your place and support you. What do you think?" Sheva offered.

"Really?!" Nayaka had his eyes widened in shock. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Of course, it is real." Sheva nodded. Inwardly, he took a note to talk to Mister Wahyu about this, asking for a fund from the man. ’Anyway, I didn’t get paid even a single cent for this, so he’d better support me in going there.’ He mumbled.

The three teens didn’t really know what Sheva thought, but it didn’t stop them from celebrating this.

"Yes! With Brother Sheva there, we will be able to beat them all!" Nayaka clenched his fist, grinning in enthusiasm.

"Idiot, Brother Sheva is there or not will not affect anything. It just shows your weak mentality, Brother Nay!" Duta retorted harshly.

"Hey, what do you mean by idiot?! You want to fight?!"

"Oh, what?! You are challenging me?! Come on, who is afraid of whom?!"

Devi just shook her head exasperatedly, not forgetting to apologize to Sheva for their idiocy. Sheva himself didn’t mind, finding their liveliness to be enjoyable. "Anyway, one more thing before you leave." Sheva coughed, attracting their attention again. "Has the federation or your school set any target for you?" He asked.

"A target?" Nayaka frowned, pondering for a moment. "Not really. My headmaster only said that it is a good chance to accumulate experience, so the result doesn’t really matter." He shook his head.

"Me neither." Devi nodded in agreement. "My school is not one that produces a lot of talented students who could win competitions, so even though I have already shown them what I am capable of, they are still pessimistic about my prospects in the next tournament." She huffed, dissatisfied with her school’s attitude.

"As for me, I am home-schooled, so I don’t think I need to worry about that." Duta shrugged. "However, my mom got in touch with the people from the federation, and she mentioned that this tournament is not included in their plan. They just want to focus on the Asian Junior Championship next September, but this tournament is too good to pass up. So, they don’t really put a target for us, just wanting to have a representation in this tournament."

"Hmm..." Sheva pondered for a moment. "So, that means no target has been set for you guys, right?"

"...Yeah?" The three looked at each other for a moment, somehow feeling hesitant as the smirk on Sheva’s face got bigger.

"Then, it is perfect!" Sheva clapped excitedly, enough to make them run away before they could hear any nonsense he spouted. Unfortunately, before they could do that, Sheva had already spoken, "Since no one set a target for you, then I have to do it by myself! Listen, I don’t expect you guys to win, but I want you three to secure the top three spots in your section. Can you do that?"

A pin-drop silence fell before...

"WHAT?!" Devi was the first one to react, gasping in disbelief. "Top 3?! Are you kidding me, Brother Sheva?! We are not like you, picking up a win after another so easily, you know?!" While the others didn’t say anything, their eyes told Sheva that they also agreed with the girl’s sentiment.

However, Sheva didn’t waver.

"Of course, I know you are not like me. If so, I would’ve set you guys to sweep the entire tournament already. However, the top three are still reachable for you guys. I have already seen the list of players there. Both Duta and Nayaka will be playing for the open U-17, and only three players are above 2000. As for Devi, your most difficult opponent in the girls’ U-17 section is just an Uzbek girl with a rating of 2015, which I don’t think would pose any threat against you. So, the top three are definitely an achievable goal. Hell, if this is not your first tournament, I would even be bold to set up the number one spot as your target, because you are good enough to do that!"

They looked at each other once again, but this time, Sheva knew that they were slightly convinced by Sheva’s words. Now, they just needed a little more push to build up their confidence, so he didn’t hesitate to speak again.

"Trust me, guys, you are good enough. Don’t forget who taught you in the last three weeks." He smiled. "Let alone Sister Irene, Brother Taher, or Dmitrij, being trained against me alone should be worth something, right?"

At their unconscious nod, he grinned widely, knowing full well that he had won already. To add the cherry on top, he dropped another bomb. "If you managed to achieve the target that I set, I will invite you guys to play in the Biel Tournament next July. What do you think about it?"

This time, gone was all the hesitation, and the three teenagers had fire burning in their eyes, ready to go to war for Sheva.