Xiangqi grandmaster Huynh makes history for Vietnam at world championship
VOV.VN - Grandmaster Lai Ly Huynh took gold after defeating Chinese prodigy Yin Sheng in the men's final of the 2025 World Xiangqi Championship in Shanghai, China, on September 27, making the history for Vietnamese xiangqi (Chinese chess).
The game was played under the standard format of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, with rapid and blitz tie-breaks to follow in case of a draw.
However, Huynh needed no tie-breaks. Despite playing with the black pieces, he produced a brilliant performance to claim victory in the standard game.
The early stages of the match were balanced, but as the game progressed, Huynh tightened his play and gradually seized the advantage. In the endgame, he skillfully neutralized his opponent’s rook and knight, leaving Yin Sheng trapped in a hopeless position.
The young Chinese player, visibly frustrated, repeatedly searched for a breakthrough but eventually conceded defeat.
With this triumph, Lai Ly Huynh became the first Vietnamese Xiangqi player in history to win the men’s individual standard event that has been long dominated by China. His landmark achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also elevates the status of Vietnamese Xiangqi on the global stage.
Vietnam had previously reached the final twice, with Nguyen Thanh Bao in 2009 and Lai Ly Huynh in 2023.
The 2025 World Xiangqi Championship, held from September 22 to 27, featured 51 players from around the world, competing over nine rounds in a Swiss-system format.
Vietnam excels at world young rapid & blitz chess championship
VOV.VN - Young Vietnamese chess players grabbed three gold, six silver, and six bronze medals at the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship 2025, which concluded in Rhodes, Greece, on April 17.
