Việt Nam secures three gold medals at Asian Youth Chess Championships

Mai Hiếu Linh won a gold medal in the Asian Youth Chess Championships in UAE. — Photo webthethao.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s youth chess team excelled at the ongoing Asian Youth Chess Championships 2023 in Al Ain, UAE, claiming three individual gold medals in the blitz chess category.

In the U14 girls’ category, Mai Hiếu Linh clinched the gold medal. With an impressive performance over nine rounds, she accumulated a total of 8.5 points, including eight wins and one draw, securing the top position and the gold medal. Kaliakhmet Elnaz from Kazakhstan and Mohamadi Niyousha from Iran earned the second and third places with eight and seven points, respectively.

Notably, Linh, initially seeded seventh in the event, showcased outstanding skills. She discovered her passion for chess at the tender age of four and has devoted the past ten years to honing her abilities. Linh hails from a family with a rich sporting tradition, as her parents were renowned cyclists.

In the U14 boys’ category, Đinh Nho Kiệt put up an impressive strong performance, finishing nine games with seven wins and two draws, accumulating eight points and securing the gold medal.

In the U18 boys’ category, Vietnamese player Nguyễn Quốc Huy and Sharipov Davron from Uzbekistan both finished the competition with seven points. However, Huy claimed the first position due to a superior tiebreaker, while Davron settled for second place. In the same category, Huy’s teammate, Đậu Khương Duy, earned a bronze medal with a total of 6.5 points.

In the blitz chess category, Việt Nam’s Lương Hoàng Tú Linh and Vương Quỳnh Anh won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the U16 girls’ category. Nguyễn Xuân Phương secured the U8 silver medal, and Bành Gia Huy earned the U16 bronze medal.

The Asian Youth Chess Championships 2023 will continue until December 22, featuring participants from 41 countries and territories. Việt Nam have fielded a team of 48 players across various age groups, and this tournament is significant for the young players, being the final important competition of the year. VNS