The return day of world chess champion Lai Ly Huynh

(NLDO) – After his success at the 2025 World Chinese Chess Championship, chess player Lai Ly Huynh was warmly welcomed on his return at Tan Son Nhat airport.

On the evening of September 28, Lai Ly Huynh and a branch of the Vietnamese chess team returned home after participating in the 2025 World Championship held in Shanghai (China). This is the most successful international tournament of Vietnamese chess ever when Lai Ly Huynh brought home the first individual championship title of men's standard chess in history.

Lai Ly Huynh's devoted teachers welcome their student's successful return.

Undefeated in the group stage with 5 wins and 3 draws, Lai Ly Huynh won the right to play the final match with 20-year-old "prodigy" Doan Thang (Yin Sheng). Not afraid of the opponent who just won the gold medal in the rapid chess event, Lai Ly Huynh did better than the draw in the confrontation with Doan Thang in the group stage, forcing the young home player to accept defeat.

Lai Ly Huynh successfully fought two great battles with Doan Thang.

Despite his experience and ability to compete at the highest level, Lai Ly Huynh still went through many difficult moments to turn the situation around. He defeated Doan Thang after 54 moves and nearly 3 hours of competition to become the first non-Chinese player to win the world championship. After 18 consecutive seasons of dominating this intellectual sport , China lost its monopoly in the men's standard chess category to Vietnamese players.

Lai Ly Huynh received a prize of 8,000 USD from the World Championship Organizing Committee.

This is the first world championship title in Lai Ly Huynh's career after finishing second in the tournament held two years ago in the US. In addition to the individual championship, Lai Ly Huynh and his teammate Nguyen Thanh Bao also won the silver medal in the standard chess team event, just 1 point behind the host team China.

Bringing back the historic victory, Lai Ly Huynh and the players of the Vietnamese chess team were warmly welcomed at Tan Son Nhat airport (HCMC). The media and many fans also attended this solemn reception.

Lai Ly Huynh and family support

In addition to the $8,000 prize money for the world championship title from the tournament organizers, Lai Ly Huynh also received other bonuses including VND1 billion for the individual championship, VND100 million for the team runner-up from former president of the Vietnam Chess Federation Nguyen Huu Luan (Phuong Trang Group) and VND10 million from the Vietnam Chinese Chess Federation. In addition, there is also news that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee decided to reward Lai Ly Huynh with VND200 million, and the city's Department of Culture and Sports awarded VND100 million to the world champion.

Vietnam's No. 1 chess player Lai Ly Huynh said he felt proud and honored to bring home the first world chess championship for Vietnam. Competing with a relaxed and confident mentality, with favorable objective factors and determination to achieve the highest results, he made a miracle. The coronation day coincided with his wife's birthday and the first birthday of his youngest daughter, making Huynh's victory even more meaningful.

Lai Ly Huynh answers press questions at the airport upon returning home

"Each of us has a lucky star by our side. I planted in it the belief and desire to win, and that lucky star shone, leading to success. The opponent opened well but did not develop it, missing two important moves. In reality, in real chess, there are times when the athletes are under pressure and cannot control everything, not to mention the pressure of time. I successfully took advantage of the opportunity to win. I put everything aside to play the "chess game of life", seeing the final match as a friendly match to relieve the pressure. Until now, I have planted in my subconscious that I am not yet a champion so that I can continue to strive for the goals ahead, including certainly the goal of defending the throne," Lai Ly Huynh recalled the historic final match.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ngay-ve-cua-nha-vo-dich-co-tuong-the-gioi-lai-ly-huynh-196250928211831894.htm