The event has drawn 418 athletes from 11 countries in the region and some Asian countries. The host Vietnam has the largest number of athletes (264).

The championship is under the Swiss system of ruling with three events: 25 minute speed chess, 5 minute blitz and the 120 minute standard chess game.

Players from the Southeast Asian region and India, Mongolia, Iran and China are competing to win 78 sets of medals.

The event, co-organized by the General Department of Physical Education and Sports and the Thua Thien-Hue provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will last through to June 19.

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