Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm. — Photo nld.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s top chess player, Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm, has been named one of the top 10 Asian chess legends by Malaysia's Top10 of Asia magazine.

The magazine's selection criteria focused on identifying ten talented and influential Asian chess players who inspire others to start playing the game. Alongside Liêm, the list includes renowned players from India, China, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

"Coming from HCM City, Liêm emerged as a Vietnamese chess prodigy. Achieving the title of Grandmaster at just 15, he quickly established himself in the chess world. Liêm’s intelligence and diligence have led to many remarkable matches, earning him a strong reputation internationally," the magazine stated.

Liêm was crowned the 2013 World Blitz Chess Champion and currently ranks 15th in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) with an Elo rating of 2,739. He is also the coach of the chess team at Webster University in the US, where he received a full scholarship and graduated with honours. Additionally, he serves as the Director of the SPICE chess academy in the US.

India boasts five representatives in the top ten, including current world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigasi (ranked 4th globally), former world champion Viswanathan Anand, prodigy Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa. China is represented by former world champions Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, a chess prodigy from Uzbekistan, joins veteran player Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan on the list.

From December 25, 2024, to January 1, 2025, Liêm, along with fellow Vietnamese players Lê Tuấn Minh and Bành Gia Huy, will compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in the United States. VNS