Chess

Grandmaster Nguyễn Thị Thanh An wins the title in the National Chess Championship in Hà Nội on March 10. Photos of Việt Nam Chess Federation

HÀ NỘI — Grandmaster Nguyễn Thị Thanh An won the first gold for HCM City at the ongoing National Chess Championship in Hà Nội.

The 48-year-old player earned eight points after nine matches in the women's blitz chess category which lured 97 masters of all ages on March 10.

Her only defeat was to young teammate Bạch Ngọc Thùy Dương in the fifth-round match.

Nguyễn Hồng Anh of HCM City and Đỗ Hoàng Minh Thơ of Bến Tre came second and third, respectively.

On the men's side, Grandmaster Trần Tuấn Minh of Hà Nội took the top place, recording an unbeaten streak. He bagged eight points from seven wins and two draws.

Nguyễn Đức Hòa of the Military and former U10 world champion Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn of Cần Thơ earned silver and bronze.

Grandmaster Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên (right) in action in the women's rapid chess event.

Earlier, Trần Minh Thắng and Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên secured the first titles of the tournament in the rapid chess on March 9.

International master Thắng of Hà Nội championed in the men's class with 7.5 points.

His teammate Lê Tuấn Minh was second while Sơn, a strong title candidate, finished at third.

Nguyên of Cần Thơ dominated the women's pool with her outstanding performance, taking eight points from nine matches.

Thùy Dương of HCM City and Hanoian Nguyễn Hồng Nhung placed behind Nguyên in the ranking.

The championship will continue until March 17 with events in super blitz, standard and ASEAN chess. VNS