In the Group B finals, Lai faces three Chinese opponents - Guo Fengda, Liu Zijian, and 17-year-old prodigy Liu Baihong. The players compete in a double round-robin format, with only the group winner advancing to the semifinals.

After drawing with Guo Fengda and defeating Liu Zijian on February 25, Lai Ly Huynh entered Day 2 with two challenging matches.

In Round 3, playing with the black pieces, he held 2025 Chinese National Championship runner-up Liu Baihong to a draw despite sustained pressure.

Later that evening, Lai Ly Huynh again had black in a rematch against Guo Fengda. Following a balanced opening phase, the Vietnamese grandmaster gradually seized the initiative. The turning point came on move 23, when both sides committed major pieces into a sharp middlegame battle.

At a critical moment, the Vietnamese player sacrificed an elephant (minister) to gain attacking momentum in a central cannon formation. Though risky, the decision paid off as time pressure forced Guo into inaccuracies. The reigning world champion capitalised decisively to secure a convincing win.

With two wins and two draws, Lai Ly Huuynh now has eight points after four games and sits atop Group B. Meanwhile, Liu Baihong also won his match to level on points, setting up a tense head-to-head encounter.

The decisive match between Lai and Liu is scheduled for 13:00 on February 27. The winner will almost certainly claim the sole semifinal ticket from the group.

The 2026 Wuyang Cup runs from February 25 to March 1, featuring 108 players in the qualification stage to determine 15 finalists. Lai Ly Huynh received a direct entry into the final stage, marking the first time in tournament history that a foreign player was seeded straight into the finals.

This year’s champion will receive a top prize of CNY300,000 (approximately US$42,000).

Vietnamese team to compete in 2026 World Chess Olympiad

VOV.VN - The national team will participate in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad which is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan from September 15 to 28.