VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese International master (IM) Tran Tuan Minh is the surprise leader of the HDBank Cup International Open Chess after three rounds in HCM City.

IM Tran Tuan Minh is one of two leaders at the HDBank Cup International Open Chess after three rounds in HCM City.

Minh won all three of his matches and shares top spot with Grandmaster (GM) Wang Hao of China in the Masters Category.

Yesterday Minh beat Russian IM Diu Viacheslav.

Wang, No 5 seed, defeated IM Shyaam Nikhil of India to have three points.

Third position went to Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi who has 2.5 points.

Vietnamese top GM Le Quang Liem yesterday unexpectedly drew with teammate IM Le Tuan Minh and is down to No 4.

No 1 seed Wei Yi wont is still far away from top 10. He is currently at 19, with two points.

In the next round, Minh will play Wang, Liem will face his teammate IM Nguyen Anh Khoi, Bu will meet GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Viet Nam and Wei will take on IM Vo Thanh Ninh of the hosts.

In the Challengers category, Nguyen Huynh Tuan Hai of Viet Nam leads with three points. He is followed by Pham Minh Hieu and Women’s Grandmaster Nguyen Thi Thuy Trien. 

VNS