Vietnamese chess player received a bonus of 1 billion VND after his historic victory.

On September 27, Vietnamese chess player Lai Ly Huynh ended the decisive match with a dramatic victory over Chinese opponent Doan Thang, thereby winning the men's individual standard chess championship at the 2025 World Xiangqi Championship.

The final match takes place in a format of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds for each move. If there is a draw, rapid chess will continue with 10 minutes and 5 seconds for each move. If there is a draw, blitz chess will continue with 5 minutes plus 3 seconds for each move.

Lai Ly Huynh (center) at the medal award ceremony. Photo: NVCC.

Doan Thang held the red pieces (went first), went first and used the two middle cannons (first cannon) tactic. The Chinese player had the upper hand in the middle game, because he blocked the black rook and knight in one corner. He even sacrificed the cannon, exchanging the bishops, creating a dangerous offensive position. Afterwards, Doan Thang captured the black knight, creating a balance of pieces. In return, Ly Huynh only had three more pawns.

However, Doan Thang made a serious mistake in the late middle game, losing his knight. Ly Huynh immediately realized his opponent's mistake and captured his knight. Although he lost his cannon afterward, Vietnam's number one player got an important piece in return, breaking Doan Thang's defense. After Lai Ly Huynh's decisive rook move, after a few dozen seconds of thinking, Doan Thang accepted defeat and shook hands with the Vietnamese player.

Lai Ly Huynh helped Vietnam win the first Gold Medal in the men's individual standard chess event at the World Chinese Chess Championship.

This is a historic championship because Lai Ly Huynh is the first player to win the men's individual standard chess event of the World Xiangqi Championship without being of Chinese nationality. After this historic victory, player Lai Ly Huynh was awarded 1 billion VND by the former President of the Vietnam Xiangqi Federation Nguyen Huu Luan and Phuong Trang Group.

The World Xiangqi Championship was first held in 1990, usually held every two years, and China has had a representative win all 18 of the first championships in the most important event: men's individual standard chess. In addition to Lai Ly Huynh's gold medal, the Vietnamese Xiangqi team also won a silver medal in the men's team.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/ky-thu-viet-nam-duoc-thuong-nong-1-ti-dong-sau-chien-thang-lich-su-i782752/