Vietnam officially concluded its campaign at the second Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships 2017 on June 25, racking up a total of 20 gold, 20 silver and 12 bronze medals across different age groups for both boys and girls.

Pham Tran Gia Phuc (left) strikes three gold medals in the boys' U-8 category. 

Pham Tran Gia Phuc, reigning world U-8 rapid chess champion, was the most comprehensive Vietnamese performer in Mongolia, as he dominated the boys’ U-8 competition winning three golds in the standard, rapid and blitz chess categories.

Six other Vietnamese gold medalists in the standard chess event included, Nguyen Nghia Gia Binh (boys’ U-6), Bui Huy Phuoc (boys’ U-10), Tran Dang Minh Quang (boys’ U-12), Vu Bui Thi Thanh (girls’ U-12), Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (girls’ U-14) and Tran Thi Diem Quynh (girls’ U-16).

Despite only claiming a bronze in the Open U-18 standard category, Hanoi player Tran Minh Thang performed exceptionally well to settle for supreme finishes in both the rapid and blitz chess events.

Notably, among the Vietnamese silver medalists was Nguyen Le Cam Hien (girls’ U-10), who won the world U-8 title two years ago.

The Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships 2017 took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from June 18 to 25, with the participation of 400 players from across the region.

Meanwhile, at the ongoing FIDE World Women’s Team Championship in Russia, the Vietnamese team has yet to capture their third win in this year’s competition, after being held to a 2-2 draw by the United States team in the seventh round of play.

Earlier in the competition, Vietnam recorded two victories over Egypt on June 18 and Azerbaijan on June 21.

Nhan Dan