Vietnamese chess players vie for berths in world championships

4/10/2019 - 3:31:21 PM

The Vietnam Chess Federation has sent a team of prominent players to compete in the ongoing Zone 3.3 qualification tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with the goal of winning places at the 2019 Chess World Cup (for men) and the 2020 Women’s World Chess Championship.

Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Phung will face numerous difficulties in defending her crown in the Zone 3.3 qualification tournament.

The event, taking place from April 7 to 16, has brought together 48 male and 38 female competitors from the Philippines, Hong Kong (China), the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia and Vietnam.

Accordingly, the top two male finishers will qualify for the 2019 World Cup and the winner of the women’s category will see herself through to the 2020 Women’s World Championship.

With an Elo rating of 2349, Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Phung is seeded fifth in the women’s draw. In the opening game, Phung was held to an unexpected tie by lower-rated compatriot Pham Bich Ngoc (Elo 2160). Similar results were also gained by third seed Pham Le Thao Nguyen (Elo 2383) and veteran Nguyen Thi Thanh An (Elo 2264).

Meanwhile, other Vietnamese representatives – Hoang Thi Bao Tram (Elo 2298), Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Elo 2281), Le Thanh Tu (Elo 2220) and Doan Thi Hung Nhung (Elo 1938) – cruised to opening wins.

In 2017, Vo Thi Kim Phung won the Zone 3.3 qualification tournament in the Philippines and secured the only zonal ticket to the 2018 Women’s World Championship, where the 1993-born player exited early in the first round.

In the men’s draw, top seed Tran Tuan Minh (Elo 2553) suffered a first-round defeat against Vietnamese compatriot Nguyen Duc Hoa (Elo 2433). Meanwhile, 12^th seed Nguyen Van Huy produced a good start with a victory over Mongolian Byambasuren (Elo 2313).

Source: NDO

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