Lai Ly Huynh and Nguyen Thanh Bao to participate in the World Xiangqi Championship

The Vietnamese Xiangqi team targets surprising results at the 2025 World Championship in Shanghai, with the participation of experienced players Lai Ly Huynh and Nguyen Thanh Bao.

Vietnam’s Xiangqi team will compete in the 2025 World Championship with notable players Lai Ly Huynh and Nguyen Thanh Bao. The team aims to end China’s dominance in this tournament.

According to the Vietnamese Xiangqi Federation’s decision, the entire team will depart to compete from September 21 to 27 in Shanghai, China, including 6 coaches and 18 players across various age groups.

In the men’s category, the return of the duo Lai Ly Huynh and Nguyen Thanh Bao is expected to strengthen the Vietnamese team. Both have multiple national championships, extensive international experience, and have won world silver medals.

Most recently, Thanh Bao was runner-up in Shandong in 2009, while Ly Huynh earned silver in Houston 2023. Previously, Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang competed alongside Ly Huynh in the last tournament.

Expectations are higher this time as China, the host and the world’s top Xiangqi power, will be missing many top players due to a match-fixing scandal, including Wang Tianyi, Zheng Yidong, Zhao Hanhan, Tu Chao, and Jiang Xuan.

Instead, they sent two young talents, Man Phon Duye (17) and Doan Thang (20). Although inexperienced, both are regarded as rising prodigies and remain formidable opponents for Vietnam.

Additionally, the Vietnamese team will face Cao Nham Loi, currently China’s top player competing under Macau’s flag. This represents a significant challenge if the Vietnamese players want to advance far in the competition.

In the women’s category, Vietnam has sent Dam Thi Thuy Dung and Kieu Bich Thuy. Notably, Bich Thuy is one of the few players to hold master titles simultaneously in both chess and Xiangqi. Meanwhile, the familiar name Nguyen Hoang Yen is absent, much to the fans’ disappointment.

The youth teams are also emphasized, with Vietnam fielding a large group across various age brackets. The U16 boys include Do Manh Thang, Hoang Nhat Minh Huy, Vu Xuan Bach, and Pham Huu Minh. The U16 girls comprise Ngo Minh An, Tran Bich Phuong, Le Ngoc Minh Khue, and Nguyen Thuy Duong. For the U12 group, boys are Chu Duc Huy and Nguyen Dang Khoa; girls are Tran Nguyen Minh Hang, Truong Thanh Van, Lam Hoang Hai Ngoc, and Truong Gia Han.