Vietnam's number one chess player successfully defends world rapid chess gold medal

(Dan Tri) - After missing the chance to make history at the 2023 World Chess Championship, Lai Ly Huynh successfully defended his title at the 2023 World Rapid Chess Championship held in the US.

The 2023 World Rapid Chinese Chess Championship with the participation of about 70 players regardless of age and gender from China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (China), Canada, and the United States took place on the evening of November 25. After the first 8 games, Lai Ly Huynh rose to the top of the rankings with 14 points (6 wins and 2 draws). The closest opponent and possible threat to the top position of the number one Vietnamese player is Yuan Weihao (China) with 13 points.

Kỳ thủ số một Việt Nam bảo vệ thành công HCV cờ tướng nhanh thế giới - 1

Lai Ly Huynh tied with player Yuan Weihao to win the gold medal at the world rapid chess tournament (Photo: Jadon).

Yuan Weihao is a leading young talent in Chinese chess and has just won the gold medal (HCV) of the U12 world group. In the final round, Lai Ly Huynh and Yuan Weihao faced off directly. Against a younger opponent with a different level, Lai Ly Huynh easily won a draw. This result was enough to help Lai Ly Huynh win the world rapid chess gold medal for the second time in a row with 15 points after 9 undefeated games (6 wins, 3 draws). Also in the final round, Vietnamese player Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang defeated Cheng Yin Lung (Hong Kong, China). This result helped Nhat Quang win the world rapid chess bronze medal with 13 points. In the first time held in 2022, Lai Ly Huynh overcame many strong opponents to impressively win the gold medal. On the evening of November 24, Lai Ly Huynh won the right to enter the finals of the 2023 World Chess Championship. However, he lost to the 2023 Chinese chess runner-up Meng Chen, missing the opportunity to win the first world gold medal for Vietnamese chess.

Lai Ly Huynh, born in 1990, is a Vietnamese chess player, 5 times Vietnam champion, reaching the international grandmaster level. Lai Ly Huynh is considered the number one chess player in Vietnam today and is considered by chess fans to be the most talented player in the history of modern Vietnamese chess.