Thua Thien Hue team at the Asian Youth Chess 2018
The team had an excellent performance from Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh - winner of the Youth Chess Championship 2017, who was selected by the National Chess Federation to participate in the Youth Chess Championship 2018.
In addition to that, the provincial chess coaching board decided to encourage other qualified athletes to participate in this tournament. As a result, the provincial Chess Federation sent a four-athlete chess team, led by coach Nguyen Phu to the Championship.
The team only dared to "dream" of a medal of honor in spite of having departed with a great determination.
Gaining no win at the beginning of the championship at the rapid chess content did not discourage the team. Later in the standard chess, Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh won the first gold medal at the U10 group one round before the final.
On April 8, Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh continued her outstanding winning impetus to win an individual silver medal and a team gold medal at the U10 blitz chess. The next good news came from Ha Phuong Hoang Mai as she qualified for the top 3 to win the U18 team gold medal for the Vietnam team.
What was more, Le Thai Nga brought about a U16 team gold medal. Joy after joy, Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh and Nguyen Thai Nga won another team silver medal after the final game of the standard chess.
At the end of the championship, the Thua Thien Hue team won 4 gold medals and 3 silver medals, and qualified as one of the excellent teams of the Vietnam delegation. This result confirms the provincial chess team has regained good achievements, not only in this championship but for coming tournaments as well.
Story and photo: Ha Hai