Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh brings joys to Hue chess

Khanh Linh (right) is competing at the Asian Youth Chess Championship 2018

The Thua Thien Hue chess team, especially the girl chess team, was once well-known with such famous names as Thuan Hoa, Bao Tram, Kim Phung, Nhu Y, etc. That generation has continued with the chess community at different positions, but regrettably no longer played for the provincial team. Since Như Y and Kim Phung left the team, hardly has any chess player made a notable success at continental tournaments.

Joy has recently returned with a bright and fully promising face named Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh, born in 2008.

After only one hardworking year under the enthusiastic guidance of the coach couple Nguyen Phu and Nguyen Ngan Binh from the Hue Chess team, the shy slender girl won the gold medal of the National U9 chess championship. With this achievement, Khanh Linh was selected by the Vietnam Chess Federation to participate in the Asian Youth Chess Championship 2018 held in Thailand 2018 from April 1 to 10.

In the girls U10 standard, with a participation of 44 players, including a number of important chess players from India, China, Iran, and so on,  Khanh Linh won the gold medal in the standard chess,that is the most prestigious of the tournament. After the final game on April 9, Khanh Linh is also capable of winning the U10 team Gold Medal.

The joy camed quickly and overwhelmingly, spreading from athletes, coaches to parents of chess players, and the chess community of Thua Thien Hue after years of slowing down.

Story and photo: Ha Hai