Chinese chess

Lại Lý Huynh poses with a set of medals that he wins at the 18th World Xiangqi Championship in the US in November. Photo Cờ Tướng News

Thanh Hà

Việt Nam has had multiple world and international champions, and Lại Lý Huynh is a fine example.

The xiangqi (Chinese chess) master has had a perfect 2023, defending his world rapid xiangqi championship title before taking China's National Xiangqi League gold medal on December 10.

In his pocket, there were also other medals from the national championship, SEA Games, Asian Games, and world tournaments. These outstanding achievements have made him the 'treasure of the nation' in the chess field.

Chinese chess talent

Born in 1990 in Vĩnh Long Province, Huynh spent his childhood in the Southernmost province of Cà Mau.

Lại Lý Huynh of Việt Nam (right) plays Meng Chen of China during the 18th World Xiangqi Championship. Huynh wins a gold in the rapid xiangqi event. — Photo Cờ Tướng News

Quitting school when he was small, he was inspired by his father to love Chinese chess.

Different from the other children who loved football, Huynh spent most of his time playing with the flat pieces and quickly showed his talent.

"It was easy for my parents to find me, since I was in love with chess. They were always able to find me in a place where people were gathering for the board games," Huynh said.

"Parents were no longer afraid of me going away, but afraid of my addiction to chess because I was so busy playing games and forgot to have meals."

His talent gave him a place in the Cà Mau youth team when he was 12 in 2004.

Only two years later, he grabbed his first title at the National Youth Xiangqi Championship. Huynh was on top of the national senior championships in 2013 and successfully won again in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and took the national blitz xiangqi golds twice in 2017 and 2018.

Lại Lý Huynh (2nd right) and his Hangzhou team with the certificate of winning at China's National Xiangqi League. Huynh is the first foreigner to take this title in history. Photo Cờ Tướng News

He also secured medals at the Asian Indoor Games and the world championship in 2009 when the teenager obtained the International Grandmaster title, the highest level of a Chinese chess player.

“It (national championship title in 2013) was the most memorable milestone in my career. It was my first tournament when I went up against the strong and experienced masters of Việt Nam," Huynh said.

"Luckily, I won the national title, which was a big source of pride for a young player like me.”

The key member of the Việt Nam team has been invited to play in prestigious events internationally and offered contracts to compete for different clubs in the Chinese championships, the world's strongest hub of xiangqi.

Top of the world

"In addition to his inborn talent, Huynh has a big passion for xiangqi. He loves the games so much that he could spend up to eight hours per day practising," said national coach Hoàng Đình Hồng.

"Playing xiangqi online helps him quickly access updated playing styles, technique, and tactics to improve his quality."

In 2022, Huynh overthrew China's domination to top the world. He won a world gold medal in the individual rapid Chinese chess and together with his teammates secured a second gold in the team standard category.

Lại Lý Huynh takes part in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. He won a gold in the men's single event. Photo Cờ Tướng News

2023 saw his greatest performance with gold at the 32nd SEA Games; silver and bronze at the Asian Games; and bronze, silver and gold at the world championship.

"The 2022 world championship was the most impressive tournament. My teammate and I won a team title which was, I believe, a turning point in Việt Nam's history as it was the first time we took this title in a major event," Huynh said.

"We successfully defeated China, which had never lost this gold because they were so strong compared to the rest of the world."

Huynh's achievement made him Việt Nam's best Chinese chess master ever, as he has bagged almost all the available international titles. His invitations to take part in China's events are an acknowledgement of his talent.

This year Huynh was invited to play for the Hangzhou team in China's National Xiangqi League. The team's win made him the first-ever non-Chinese master to take a title.

Hangzhou coach and teammate Wang Tian Yi praised his contribution to the team's success.

The former world champion said Huynh's performance exceeded his expectations and played the key role in Hangzhou's win. He congratulated Huynh on being a Vietnamese to win the prestigious title, a dream of many Chinese masters.

Lại Lý Huynh (right) plays Liu Kuo Hua of Chinese Taipei at the Asian Games in China in September. Photo nld.com.vn

"It is a professional tournament where teams can hire players to compete for the title. Because of its huge bonus, the event has gathered many world masters," said Huynh.

"I played eight matches and did not lose any standard games, only three rapid ones in the play-offs. The most important thing that I got from the Chinese league was that I could compete in a professional xiangqi environment at the world level. It was an opportunity for me to show my ability and challenge my limits too." VNS.