Olympiad success earns Vietnam two places at 2027 FIDE World Cup
VOV.VN - Vietnam has secured two spots, one at the 2027 FIDE World Cup and the other at the 2027 FIDE Women’s World Cup following their performance at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, according to the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
FIDE recently announced the list of national federations that have qualified for the two competitions, with Vietnam earning two places.
Vietnam’s Open team entered the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September, as the 47th seed, without leading grandmasters Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Le Tuan Minh. Instead, the team relied on a young line-up comprising Dau Khuong Duy, 15, Banh Gia Huy and Pham Tran Gia Phuc, both 17, Nguyen Quoc Hy, 20, and Nguyen Hoang Nam.
The youngsters delivered an impressive performance over 11 rounds, recording six wins, three draws and two defeats. Vietnam finished 19th overall among the participating teams and won the Group B gold medal, climbing 28 places from its initial seeding.
The women’s team also exceeded expectations. Starting as the 21st seed, Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Vo Thi Kim Phung, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Luong Phuong Hanh and Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong finished ninth overall. Nguyen Thi Mai Hung added to the team’s achievement by winning an individual silver medal on Board 5.
Vietnam has yet to announce which players will use the two places secured through the Olympiad. Under FIDE regulations, the Vietnam Chess Federation must select one player from the corresponding team that competed at the 2026 Olympiad for each place. Federations must confirm their representatives between July 1 and 15, 2027.
The 2027 World Cup is set to feature an expanded field. The Open competition will increase from 206 to 224 players, while the Women’s World Cup will grow from 103 to 128 players.
Both events are scheduled to begin with a nine-round Swiss-system stage, after which the top 16 players in each competition will advance to the knockout rounds. The combined prize fund is expected to reach US$3.3 million, up from US$2.67 million at the 2025 editions.
Vietnam’s two qualification places provide another opportunity for its players to compete on the world stage, following an Olympiad campaign that showcased both the strength of the women’s team and the promise of its young players.
Vietnam chess teams make major leap in global rankings after Olympiad success
VOV.VN - Vietnam has climbed four spots to 32nd in the latest FIDE national federation rankings following strong performances at the 2026 Chess Olympiad.
