Vietnamese, Chinese players to face off in blindfold xiangqi match
VOV.VN - Two players with disabilities from Vietnam and China will compete in a blindfold xiangqi match, relying on memory and mental visualisation rather than looking at the board, as part of a special programme in Yen Tu, northern Vietnam.
The Vietnam Xiangqi Federation introduce the event at a press conference in Hanoi on October 12, alongside the inaugural Yen Tu Chess King tournament, scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 7.
The blindfold match will feature Vietnamese player Phung Quang Diep, a former national master, and Yang Hongqi from China’s Shandong province.
Rather than watching the board, the two players will announce their moves verbally, relying on their ability to memorise and visualise the positions. Meanwhile, performers dressed as fairies will recreate the game on a physical board on stage, combining an intellectual contest with artistic performance.
Diep has used a wheelchair for many years but has continued to pursue his passion for xiangqi and take part in community activities. Yang has been paralysed in both legs since childhood and uses wooden crutches to move around. Despite their physical challenges, both players have been committed to the game.
According to organisers, the event is intended to celebrate the intelligence, determination and resilience of people with disabilities rather than focus solely on the result. They said it would be the first international blindfold Xiangqi match between two players with disabilities.
The programme is planned as a series of cultural and sporting activities across several locations, including the Yen Tu historical and scenic complex in Quang Ninh city, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, and several venues in Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces.
The inaugural Yen Tu Chess King tournament is expected to feature 16 leading Vietnamese players in two divisions. Eight players aged 16 and above will compete for the Yen Tu Chess King title, while eight players aged 15 and under will vie for the Yen Tu Prodigy title.
Other activities will include exchanges, blindfold Xiangqi demonstrations and simultaneous matches in which players compete against four opponents on physical boards.
The matches and performances are expected to be recorded, accompanied by commentary and broadcast live on television and digital platforms to reach wider audiences, particularly younger generations.
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