For the first time, China will compete in the world championship without a national champion. Due to the ban on several top players and champions involved in match-fixing, China has selected less experienced players. According to the old Elo rating system for xiangqi, Meng Fanrui is ranked 24th in China, while Yin Sheng is 98th.
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Yin Sheng (left) playing against Gu Bowen in the winners' bracket final of the Chinese team selection tournament in Pengzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan Province on 28/6/2025. Photo: Jiupai Sports |
Yin Sheng (left) playing against Gu Bowen in the winners' bracket final of the Chinese team selection tournament in Pengzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan Province on 28/6/2025. Photo: Jiupai Sports
The two players qualified through the final selection round held from June 27th to 29th in Pengzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This final round featured 16 players competing in a double-elimination format. Fanrui led the first qualifying round and defeated Hua Chenhao in the first match of the final round. However, he lost to Gu Bowen in the second match and moved to the losers' bracket.
The 17-year-old prodigy then defeated He Wenzhe, Xu Wenchang, Gu Bowen, and Chen Hao to secure the final spot in the world championship.
Yin Sheng earned the first spot by winning all four of his matches against Shen Jiawei, Xu Wenchang, Wang Yubo, and Gu Bowen.
While Meng Fanrui and Yin Sheng have improved, they are not yet on par with permanently banned champions like Wang Tianyi, Zheng Weitong, or Zhao Xinxin. This presents a greater opportunity for Vietnam and other teams to challenge China's dominance in this year's tournament.
The World Xiangqi Championship occurs every two years. This year marks the 19th edition, taking place in Shanghai, China, in late 9/2025. In the previous 18 men's individual events, Chinese representatives have consistently won the championship.
Vietnam's team for the upcoming world championship has not yet been finalized. Having recently won his sixth national championship, Lai Ly Huynh is likely to secure a spot.
Xuan Binh
