Heading into the final round, Khuong Duy faced Stremavicius with confidence after already securing his second Grandmaster (GM) norm. A draw in the decisive game saw him finish the tournament unbeaten with seven points, including five wins and four draws.

The title race was tightly contested, with nine players tied on seven points. However, Khuong Duy emerged on top thanks to the highest tie-break score of 51.5, clinching the championship and a top prize of around US$3,000 — the largest of his career so far.

This year’s tournament featured 241 players, including 16 Grandmasters, competing in a nine-round Swiss system at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. On his path to the title, the Vietnamese teenager impressed with victories over strong opponents, notably defeating Loek van Wely (Netherlands) in round six, while holding experienced players such as Nigel Short (UK) to draws.

Khuong Duy delivered a tournament performance rating of 2649, surpassing the 2600 threshold required for a GM norm. His Elo rating also climbed to 2,521, officially exceeding the 2,500 mark set by FIDE. He now needs just one more norm to secure the Grandmaster title.

Elsewhere, Vietnam’s Pham Tran Gia Phuc scored 6.5 points, gaining Elo and moving closer to the 2,450 milestone, while other Vietnamese players delivered steady performances.

The victory underscores Khuong Duy’s rapid rise and highlights Vietnam’s growing presence in the global chess arena.

Vietnam ranks fifth worldwide in U18 chess International Masters

VOV.VN - The March rankings released by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) continue to show Vietnam’s strength in the junior category.