>>> Liem qualifies for 2017 Chess World Cup as Asian runner-up
No. 14 seed with 2,199 Elo, Mai Hung was certainly not a favourite in the blitz chess category, even compared with her two teammates Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Hoang Bao Tram.
However, except for the only defeat to Gong Qianyun (2,307 Elo) in game 5, Mai Hung played impressively, securing 6.5 points after eight games.
In the last match, the 22-year-old player beat her mate Vo Thi Kim Phung (2,177 Elo), officially crowned champion of the tournament with 7.5 points in total. This is the first Asian gold medal as well as long-standing dream of the Bac Giang native player.
Hung’s teammate Phung ranked No. 8 with 6 points while No.1 seed Nguyen ranked 18th with 4.5 points and Tram (seeded No. 3) ranked 24th with 4 points.
On the men’s side, Liem was expected to win the blitz chess title as the top seed played well until the final game, securing 7 points from eight games with six wins and two draws to lead the table. However, once again, the former 2013 blitz chess world champion lost the last match to Lu Shanglei (2,724 Elo) and gave the championship title to his Chinese rival.
Also in the ninth round, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son lost to Lalith Babu from India and down to 17th place with 6 points, while Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy ranked No. 9 with 6.5 points.
The Vietnam chess team ended up the 2016 Asian Individual Championships with one gold and two silvers – the most impressive achievement so far.
After the tournament, Liem will attend the Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup of the President of Kazakhstan, taking place in the city of Almaty from June 17-20. The event brings together over 150 players from both Asian and European continents competing in 11 double round Swiss games for the total prize fund amounting to US$100,000.
