HÀ NỘI International chess master Nguyễn Anh Khôi secured his second grandmaster norm by winning the gold medal at the 20th ASEAN+Age Groups Chess Championships in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Khôi, the former U10 and U12 world champion, did not suffer a single defeat in the open U20 category.

The 17-year-old won eight matches and drew one to finish with 8.5 points. His only draw was to his teammate Trần Minh Thắng in the fifth round.

Khôi has now pocketed two thirds of the norms required to become a grandmaster.

Apart from Khôi, the Việt Nam team also took 11 golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes from other categories.

The champions included Đồng Khánh Linh (girls' U20), Bạch Ngọc Thùy Dương (girls' U16), Nguyễn Lê Cẩm Hiền (girls U12) and Đào Minh Nhật (Open U16).

The event, which includes 22 categories in age groups from U6 to U50, will continue with rapid and blitz events before concluding on June 19. VNS