A misstep!

There have been few periods in Vietnamese chess history that have witnessed as many scandals as the past few weeks.

Two consecutive incidents involving the team participating in the 2026 Chess Olympiad and two FIDE ( World Chess Federation) instructor training courses have put the Vietnam Chess Federation under immense public pressure.

Is there a problem with management?

From the controversy surrounding the formation of the 2026 Chess Olympiad team, veteran players writing heartfelt letters about transparency in sports , to FIDE's announcement of temporarily suspending certification for chess instructor and teacher training courses in Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, all these events lead to a common thread: Is there a problem with the management, administration, and communication of the Vietnam Chess Federation – the organization that manages all chess activities nationwide?

Looking at the list of the team for the 2026 Chess Olympiad, it's easy to see that the Vietnam Chess Federation has lacked persistence in dialogue and in pursuing solutions to the problem. What efforts did the federation make that Le Quang Liem had to speak out from the US, asserting that his absence from the team "did not stem from personal scheduling difficulties as some reports have suggested"? Rarely speaking out publicly, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son also stated that the near-complete overhaul of the team before a major tournament is "unprecedented" in his many years involved with chess.

What the public is waiting for is an answer to the question: What has the Vietnam Chess Federation done to persuade the best players to represent the national team? Were there any direct meetings? Were there any specific financial support plans or efforts to overcome difficulties? There has only been a terrifying silence, and then the public witnessed a strange national team roster, hastily formed as if to serve some ulterior motive (?!).

The way it was handled sparked much debate.

In the women's team, the handling of the situation also sparked much debate. The two top players, Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Luong Phuong Hanh, received information regarding their participation in the national team through an online chat group. Later, it emerged that both had registered late, leading to feelings of disappointment and frustration among those who had dedicated many years to the national team, only to have their tasks assigned and decided via messages in the chat group.

More importantly, when public opinion reacted strongly, the preliminary list that had just been announced was immediately left open for adjustment. This inadvertently puts young players in an awkward position: Today they are called up to the national team, but tomorrow they could easily be dropped if the senior players return.

The FIDE chess instructor training program is embroiled in controversy regarding its finances. Photo: VCF

A national team cannot operate in an arbitrary, unscientific manner because behind each athlete is professional preparation, mental and physical fitness, and professional pride.

The incident involving two FIDE instructor and coach training courses also reveals a similar approach from the Vietnam Chess Federation. When many trainees repeatedly asked questions about tuition fees, exam fees, certification fees, card issuance timelines, and financial procedures, what they expected most was clear explanations. Instead, the group chat – which included approximately 120 course participants – was deleted.

If this report is accurate, this is a detail worth considering. A group chat is not legal evidence, but it is a channel for exchanging information between the organizing unit and the students. Closing or deleting the communication channel before questions have been fully answered is more likely to create a sense of avoidance than dialogue.

A readily apparent commonality in both cases is that press releases appeared relatively quickly after the controversy erupted. However, press releases are merely a communication tool, not a management solution.

Reverse

Those involved are frustrated by the lack of open dialogue to resolve existing issues, from team formation to chess instructor training courses. Then, when Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son's open letter about caring for and investing in top-level chess players for international competitions emerged, people became even more disillusioned with how administrators have been dragging down chess – a sport that has repeatedly brought glory to Vietnam with world and continental gold medals.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nuoc-co-lac-nhip-196260525204822921.htm