Vietnam win first men’s team gold medal at World Xiangqi Championship

Vietnam placed first thanks to the overall standings of their two strongest players, Nguyen Thanh Bao and Lai Ly Huynh, which outstripped China. This is Vietnam’s first gold medal ever in the men’s team event at the tournament after years of Chinese domination.

In the men’s singles event, Bao and Huynh placed third and fourth although they were unbeaten. After the eighth match of the event, the two players with the best result would play the final. World number one Wang Tian Yi of China placed first with 13 points, followed by Bao and Hong Kong’s Feng Jiajun with 12 points each. Feng got to play in the final due to having better stats.

In the final, Wang defeated Feng after 70 moves to become world champion for the third time (after 2013 and 2017) and received $8,000 in prize money.

Meanwhile, Bao and Huynh, two Vietnamese players competed for the bronze medal match and had a quick draw after 22 moves. Bao placed third overall with 13 points and won the bronze medal.

China have dominated the men’s singles and teams events since the first tournament in 1990, a streak broken by Vietnam this year.

This year’s tournament takes place from October 23 to 30 in Kuching. It featured 128 players from 15 countries and territories. Aside from the men’s and women’s events, the tournament also have other events for U12 and U16 players.

Vietnam participated with 23 players and placed first overall with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals.