Vietnamese chess "hot" with billion-dollar international tournament

After the world championship achievement of chess player Lai Ly Huynh, Vietnamese chess will continue to attract the attention of fans with the 2025 International Masters Tournament.

The International Chinese Chess Tournament for Famous Players - Phuong Trang Cup, after a year of absence due to many objective reasons, will return in December (from 21 to 29) in Da Nang City. The 7th tournament this year brings together 19 leading Vietnamese players and 11 invited players, representing strong chess villages in the region and continent.

Famous chess player Tuong Xuyen (right) competes in the final of Phuong Trang Cup 2023 with Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang. Photo: DONG LINH

The most notable player in the host team is none other than Lai Ly Huynh. The presence of the 2025 world champion alone is a factor that guarantees the success of the tournament. Besides Lai Ly Huynh, there are also a group of great players: Nguyen Thanh Bao, Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang, Ton That Nhat Tan, Ha Van Tien, Nguyen Anh Quan, Vu Quoc Dat, Nguyen Hoang Lam, Uong Duong Bac, Dao Quoc Hung, Dang Huu Trang...

Regarding the guest players, the Organizing Committee has not yet determined the specific list due to the need for introductions from the Chess Federations of the host countries and territories. Fans predict the return of familiar faces who participated in the 2023 tournament also in Da Nang such as international grandmaster Trieu Dich Pham (Taiwan - China), international grandmaster Tham Nghi Hao (Malaysia) or special international grandmaster Ngo Tong Han (Singapore)...

The most interesting case is that of the special international grandmaster Jiang Chuan - the 2011 world champion, the 2023 Chinese champion and the 2009 and 2023 Phuong Trang Cup champion. Whether the reigning champion can return to defend the title depends on the progress of the trial of the match-fixing cases of Chinese players in recent times, related to Jiang Chuan.

The 7th edition of the International Chinese Chess Tournament - Phuong Trang Cup this year is also notable for its total prize value of over 30,000 USD (approximately 1 billion VND). Accordingly, the champion will receive 15,000 USD - the highest prize ever in the Vietnamese Chinese chess world. The attractive prize money promises to create thrilling battles and many mind games worth watching in this year's tournament.

According to experts, in addition to the "unknowns" from the 3 unidentified Chinese players, the leading candidate for the championship must certainly be the special international grandmaster Lai Ly Huynh - who just won the individual gold medal at the 2025 World Championship held right in the "land of chess" China.

In addition, if they reach their best form, Nguyen Thanh Bao and a group of former Vietnamese champions such as Vu Quoc Dat, Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang, Dang Huu Trang, Uong Duong Bac... also have the opportunity to make history at home.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/co-tuong-viet-nong-voi-giai-quoc-te-tien-ti-196251024204506355.htm