Chess player Lai Ly Huynh has arrived in China. Vietnam's No. 1 chess player is given a special invitation to participate in the final round of the Ngu Duong Boi 2026 chess tournament, which will be held from February 25 to March 1.
After the qualifying round, 15 top Chinese chess players have qualified for the final round including: Manh Phon Due, Tran Hoang Thinh, Ngo Nguy, Quach Phung Dat, Duong Tu Nam, Duong Dan, Phung Gia Huan, Vuong Vu Bac, Trieu Phan Vi, Vuong Hao, Luu Tu Kiet, Trinh Vu Dong, Luu Ba Hoanh, Tuc Thieu Phong, Doan Thang.
Lai Ly Huynh is the 16th player to compete in the tournament. Players will compete in standard chess in matches drawn by the Organizing Committee before officially competing.
The representative of Vietnamese chess received a slot from the Organizing Committee of the tournament while holding the position of defending world champion.
The Ngu Duong Boi Chinese Chess Tournament has a history of many years of organization. The Chinese chess village always gathers top players with đẳng cấp (level/class) from age to expertise.
In this year's tournament, experts will focus their attention on Lai Ly Huynh and Doan Thang because the 2 chess players used to compete in the final of the 2025 World Championships. At that time, Ly Huynh overcame his opponent to win the championship.
In 2025, Lai Ly Huynh was voted into the list of 10 outstanding athletes of Vietnamese sports.
