In a remarkable performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, Vietnam’s men’s team secured a 3-1 victory over defending champions Uzbekistan in the fourth round of the Open section. This is only the second time in history that Vietnam has won all four opening rounds in the Open section, following a similar feat in 2010.
This time, however, the victory was even more impressive as Vietnam triumphed over Uzbekistan, who fielded the same lineup that won the 2022 Olympiad. Uzbekistan was also seeded fourth in this year’s tournament.
The standout players for Vietnam were Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Elo 2,633) and Le Tuan Minh (2,564), who both defeated higher-rated opponents—Nodirbek Yakubboev (2,666) and Javokhir Sindarov (2,677), respectively.
Le Tuan Minh was the first to finish his game, using a brilliant knight sacrifice that led to an unavoidable checkmate threat. Sindarov, despite being a talented 19-year-old with an Elo rating over 2,700, was forced to resign.
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son also delivered an impressive victory, gaining an advantage in the middle game despite playing Black. Yakubboev made a critical mistake in his aggressive pursuit of a win, overlooking a checkmate threat that Truong Son exploited.
In the other two games, Le Quang Liem (Elo 2,741) and Tran Tuan Minh (2,434) drew against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2,766) and Jakhongir Vakhidov (2,571), respectively, securing the 3-1 win for Vietnam.
This victory leaves Vietnam as one of the only eight teams with a perfect record after four rounds, placing them fourth in the standings behind India, Spain, and China. Another upset in round four saw Ukraine defeat top-seeded USA 2.5-1.5.
In the Women’s section, Vietnam suffered its first loss, falling 1-3 to a strong Armenian team. Pham Le Thao Nguyen (Elo 2,380) and Vo Thi Kim Phung (2,320) held draws against Lilit Mkrtchian (2,366) and Mariam Mkrtchyan (2,328), respectively. However, Luong Phuong Hanh (2,225) and Le Thanh Tu (2,092) lost to Elina Danielian (2,393) and Anna Sargsyan (2,364). Phuong Hanh’s loss was particularly disappointing as she held a winning position but lost on time.
After four rounds, Vietnam’s women’s team ranks 16th with three wins and one loss, while China, India, and the USA lead the standings in the Women’s section.
Looking ahead to round five, which begins at 8 PM on Sunday, September 15 (Hanoi time), the Vietnamese men’s team will face Poland, while the women’s team will take on Montenegro.
The 2024 Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary from September 10 to 23, marks the 100th anniversary of the tournament. The Open section features 196 teams, while the Women’s section includes 183 teams. The event, considered the Olympics of chess, brings together most of the world’s top players.
For over a decade, HDBank has been a key sponsor of international chess in Vietnam, supporting the rise of players like Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Le Quang Liem, and Pham Le Thao Nguyen, helping Vietnam’s chess scene reach the world stage.
Leave a Reply