Gan Yanyu pouted her lips slightly.
Lin Tian, noticing Gan Yanyu’s reaction, smiled and said:
"What’s up? Already thinking about what grand theme music to perform during your victory speech even before winning?"
Upon hearing this, Gan Yanyu’s eyes lowered slightly,
"I don’t have any grand plans."
"So are you assuming you’ve already won?!"
This year’s Keller Cup is divided into three segments.
He Zhichen continued to explain the rules to the two of them,
"Namely the first segment, second segment, and finals. The number of participants in each segment varies yearly based on the actual number of entrants."
"Generally speaking, the first segment, which is the qualifying round, has the most players, accounting for 90% of the total participants. By the second segment, only fewer than fifty players remain, grouped into A and B teams for internal competitions. Top players from each group advance to the finals."
The system is quite similar to the Yingqin Cup, very straightforward and direct.
No overly complex grouping or scoring rules; players with high scores advance, while low scorers are eliminated. It might not be the fairest, but the chosen champion is definitely a champion of solid strength.
The grouping method was something Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu had experienced during the Yingqin Cup semifinals, so it wasn’t unfamiliar.
"So we have to first break through the qualifying round, right?" Lin Tian asked.
"No." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noveⅼfire.net
He Zhichen quickly replied:
"You start from the second segment."
"Directly advance to the second segment?"
He Zhichen said, "The first segment’s qualifying round is primarily for less strong small countries or wildcard entrants."
"Aren’t we one of them?" Lin Tian asked.
In the previous introduction.
The Tian Chao cellists were almost degraded to the sewer position in the world, seemingly not much better than the national soccer team in the previous life.
Yet, such an underdog district can directly advance to the second segment?
"It used to be like that, but not anymore."
"Sixteen years ago, after Gan Hua achieved top eight, to commend Gan Hua’s performance, since then, Tian Chao cellists no longer needed to participate in the first segment."
Upon hearing this, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu felt a sense of realization.
Turns out, this qualifying privilege was earned by Sir Gan’s efforts.
Even though it didn’t grant more slots for Tian Chao, considering the position of Tian Chao musicians in the world, having direct qualification is quite impressive.
No wonder after that year, Sir Gan held such a high place in the hearts of Tian Chao cellists, revered as a beacon-like figure.
In such a challenging environment, even during moments of near despair, this was the best Sir Gan could achieve.
Seeing the silent young duo, He Zhichen seemed to have guessed something, adjusted his glasses frame, and encouraged:
"I believe you can do even better!"
"Maybe, after this competition, our Tian Chao cellists can have more than three Keller Cup slots?"
Lin Tian chuckled, and at this moment, the plane’s broadcast started—getting ready to land.
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu adjusted their positions and secured their seat belts.
In the descending moment, Lin Tian asked:
"How do we rank now in Vienna?"
"East Asian cellists and some classical music enthusiasts would be more familiar with you, apart from that—you’re mostly considered as ’wildcard cellists’," He Zhichen said.
This makes one truly appreciate the low popularity of classical music.
Going through the battles and finding no one cares internationally.
This feeling is the best!
"Making a name from nothing is what’s interesting."
Lin Tian turned his head to look at the city view outside the plane window, the massive Music Capital gradually becoming clear in sight.
He would engrave his name onto this city forever!
"Hey Leute! Hier ist der offizielle YouTube-Kanal von YUW Musikmagazin (Hey everyone, welcome to the ’YUW Music Magazine Official’ YouTube channel!)"
Currently the highest trending live stream on YouTube.
From one of the top music media "YUW" in the UK, host Clara began her Vienna landing live stream with fluent local German.
Immediately, Clara switched languages to English:
"(We are now in the world music capital Vienna! You can see, with three days left until the official start of the Keller Cup, more and more people are arriving in Vienna! Cellists from all over the world are about to converge here!)"
Inside the YouTube live chat, viewers from around the world were sending comments:
[Awesome! It’s warm-up live streaming!)]
[I’ll never give up going to Vienna!)]
[What a beautiful city!! Have the cello masters already landed?)]
[Has my favorite master Isaac Meck arrived?! Can you visit him?!)]
"(Friends, don’t rush, first follow my lead as we explore this beautiful Music Capital!)"
The blonde host smilingly said, her arm waving.
The drone rose into the air, its lens sweeping over the Gothic spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with pigeons circling in the rosy twilight sky.