Wang Tianyi, born April 23, 1989 in Beijing, was widely regarded as the most dominant Xiangqi player of the modern era before his career was terminated by a scandal. Known by the nickname "The Alien" (外星人) for his unconventional and overwhelming playing style, Wang's career was marked by a series of unprecedented milestones. He began his ascent at age seven, securing his first national master title at sixteen by winning the 2005 U16 National Championship.

His professional record is among the most decorated in the history of the sport. Wang was a three-time World Xiangqi Champion (2013, 2017, and 2022) and won the Chinese National Individual Championship — the most prestigious domestic title — four times, in 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2023. His consistency was perhaps his most remarkable trait; he held the world number one ranking for an uninterrupted decade starting in 2014. In May 2023, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to surpass the 2800 Elo rating barrier, a feat previously considered unreachable in professional Xiangqi.

Beyond individual accolades, Wang was a key figure in team competitions, leading the Beijing, Guangxi, and Hangzhou teams to multiple Chinese Xiangqi League titles. In 2018, he secured the lucrative "Chu River and Han Border" King of Xiangqi tournament, winning a one-million-yuan purse.

However, this legacy was dismantled in September 2024 when the Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) issued a lifetime ban against him. The investigation concluded that Wang, along with teammate Wang Yuefei, had engaged in systemic match-fixing and bribery to manipulate tournament outcomes over several years. As part of the disciplinary action, the CXA stripped Wang of his "Grandmaster" title and revoked all technical honors and competition records, effectively erasing his standing in the official history of the game.