The 30-Year-Old ‘Battle Eagle’: Son of a Fighter Pilot, From 2 Wins in 18 Matches to Viral Fame Through Abstract Live Streams

On October 19, renowned Go player Zhan Ying sat down with CCTV for an exclusive interview, sharing her remarkable journey in the world of Go.

Now 30 years old, Zhan Ying holds the title of a professional 2-dan player. She began learning Go at the age of six, though she admitted she didn’t take it seriously at first. “I wasn’t really trying, yet I placed sixth in a provincial tournament,” she recalled with a smile. “That made me think—if I actually put in the effort, could I win the whole thing?”

At 12, she moved to Beijing to pursue Go more seriously. Her mother accompanied her, living for years in a semi-basement apartment to support her daughter’s dream. After eight grueling attempts, Zhan Ying finally earned her professional status at 19. But soon, she realized the challenge had only just begun. “After the excitement faded, I thought—wait, I have to start all over again?” she said.

In the 2021 Women’s Go League, Zhan Ying faced one of the lowest points of her career. Out of 18 matches, she managed only two wins and sixteen losses. “It was devastating,” she admitted. “To perform that poorly on such a high-level stage—it was something I could hardly accept.”

At 27, she decided to take a new path and began livestreaming Go. Surprisingly, her humorous and “abstract” style drew in a wave of younger viewers, particularly from the post-2000 generation. Some jokingly called her “the queen of abstract Go,” a label that once puzzled her but she has since embraced.

“Now I’ve made peace with everything online,” she said with calm confidence. “I’m just being myself—nothing more, nothing less. Once I stepped away from competitive Go, my true personality could finally shine. I can simply enjoy being me.”

Through her live broadcasts, Zhan Ying has built a bridge connecting audiences to the beauty of Go. She even launched the “Aoying Cup,” an amateur Go tournament designed to transform her personal popularity into passion for the game itself. Beyond Go, she continues to explore new creative worlds—stage plays, stand-up comedy, singing, dancing, and gaming—each one a fresh challenge in her colorful post-competition life.

“I have no regrets about the games I’ve played,” she said with a thoughtful smile. “In every position, I just try to find the best next move. That’s what life—and Go—is all about.”