The harsh realities of the domestic league.

VHO - The 2026 National Chess Championship currently taking place in Lao Cai witnessed a major surprise when the reigning world champion and Vietnam's number one player, Lai Ly Huynh, was eliminated early in the standard chess event. Lai Ly Huynh's defeat is not only a shock in terms of the result, but also clearly reflects the increasingly harsh competition in the domestic arena.

Lai Ly Huynh (left), despite being a world champion, faced difficulties and was eliminated early in the domestic tournament. Photo: TLKĐ

World champion eliminated early.

At 36 years old, Lai Ly Huynh is considered a legend of Vietnamese chess with an impressive record of achievements, including six national championships (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2025), a world rapid chess championship title in 2022, and most notably, a world standard chess championship title in 2025 – a historic milestone as he broke the 35-year dominance of Chinese players. However, after that peak, the performance of the player born in 1990 has been somewhat inconsistent.

Before this year's National Championship began, Lai Ly Huynh had already demonstrated his class by winning the runner-up position at the "super chess tournament" Wuyang Cup (China), which brought together many of the world's top players. Therefore, he entered the domestic tournament as the number one contender for the championship.

In fact, during the qualifying round, Lai Ly Huynh demonstrated his strength by leading the group with 5.5 points after 7 games, remaining undefeated against a series of strong opponents such as Nguyen Anh Duc, Vu Quoc Dat, Phi Manh Cuong, Ha Van Tien, and Nguyen Thanh Bao. His consistent performance and competitive spirit have led to expectations that he will advance further, and even successfully defend his title.

However, a shock occurred in the quarterfinals when Lai Ly Huynh faced Phi Manh Cuong again – an opponent he had defeated in the qualifying rounds and also the last-placed player in the Top 8. In the standard chess game, despite holding the advantage, Lai Ly Huynh could not convert it into a draw. In the rapid chess game, the two players were again evenly matched. The turning point came in the decisive blitz game; in a tense match requiring absolute precision, Lai Ly Huynh unexpectedly made a mistake, giving Phi Manh Cuong the opportunity to capitalize and win. This defeat officially ended the world champion's journey in the quarterfinals, a result that shocked the chess world.

Lai Ly Huynh isn't the only person in Vietnam.

For many years, Lai Ly Huynh was considered the "undefeated champion" of Vietnamese chess, consistently dominating domestic tournaments and achieving high results in international competitions. However, the reality at this year's National Championship has shown that the gap between the leading group and the players behind them is gradually narrowing. Lai Ly Huynh's defeat to Phi Manh Cuong – a younger and less well-known player – is the clearest evidence of this.

Notably, this defeat did not stem from a decline in Lai Ly Huynh's performance, but largely from the remarkable progress of his opponents. Players like Phi Manh Cuong, Ha Van Tien, Vu Quoc Dat, Dao Van Trong, and Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang are showing rapid maturity in both their skills and competitive spirit. They are no longer intimidated when facing their seniors, and are even ready to create surprises at crucial moments.

This also highlights the reality that success on the international stage does not automatically mean easy dominance domestically. The domestic competitive environment is increasingly fierce, where players understand each other's playing styles, prepare thoroughly, and are always ready to make breakthroughs. This intense competition forces every player, including champions, to constantly reinvent themselves if they don't want to be left behind.

From a positive perspective, the rise of young chess players is a welcome sign for Vietnamese chess. It not only helps improve the professional quality of domestic tournaments but also creates depth in the team, a crucial factor for competing in international arenas. By no longer relying on a few individuals, Vietnamese chess will have more opportunities to maintain its position and reach new heights.

Therefore, Lai Ly Huynh's defeat should not be seen merely as a personal setback, but also as a milestone marking the transformation of the entire chess scene. It serves as a warning, but also as motivation for top players to continue striving, while simultaneously opening up hope for a promising next generation.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/su-khac-nghiet-cua-dau-truong-quoc-noi-218237.html