The World Xiangqi Championship, held every two years, is scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom from 28/9 to 2/10/2025. Xiangqi powerhouse China has begun its selection process, with 26 players competing in multiple rounds from 21/6 to 29/6 in Pengzhou, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province.
China's current number one player, Cao Yanlei, is absent due to prior disciplinary action in a match-fixing scandal that shook the xiangqi world. The qualifying rules prohibit participation from players with past disciplinary records.
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2008-born player Meng Fanrui. Photo: Chess Prince |
2008-born player Meng Fanrui. Photo: Chess Prince
The first qualifying round took place from 21/6 to 23/6, consisting of seven slow games. Meng Fanrui, Xu Wenchong, and Wang Yubo led the group with 9 points each, with two wins and five draws. The 17-year-old Fanrui, nicknamed "Little Magic Boy", had the highest tie-break score. 24-year-old Wenchong came in second, followed by 21-year-old Yubo.
This round selected the top 16 players to advance. In addition to the three mentioned above, the remaining 13 are Liu Zijian, He Wenzhe, Gu Bowen, Yin Sheng, Yang Shizhe, Ji Xinghai, Chen Hongsheng, Li Xuehao, Shen Jiawei, Hua Chenhao, Wang Jiashui, Wang Tiansen, and Mo Zijian.
The 10 eliminated players are Liu Baihong, Cheng Yudong, Li Hanlin, Huang Guangying, Xu Guoyi, Wu Wei, Jin Yuyan, Yao Yi, Jiang Rongbing, and Wang Ruixiang.
Notably, Chenhao, Jiashui, and Tiansen all drew their seven games and advanced, while Baihong also drew all seven but was eliminated due to tie-break criteria.
The 16 advancing players will train together from 24/6 to 26/6, focusing on skill development, sportsmanship, anti-cheating measures, and the rules of the World Xiangqi Championship. From the afternoon of 26/6 to 29/6, they will compete in the final qualifying round to determine the two representatives for the world championship.
At the 2023 World Championship in Houston, Texas, USA, "Xiangqi King" Wang Tianyi was absent due to "visa issues." However, it's widely believed he was barred due to involvement in match-fixing. As a result, China had only one representative, Meng Chen.
In the final that year, Vietnam's number one player, Lai Ly Huynh, held a winning position against Meng Chen in the endgame but ultimately drew. Huynh then lost the tie-break rapid game, extending China's 18-year dominance in the men's singles event.
Huynh has secured a spot in the upcoming world championship thanks to his sixth national title this year. His partner has not yet been determined. In the previous championship, he was partnered with Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang.
Xuan Binh
