36-year-old Meng Chen is China’s sixth-ranked xiangqi player based on the old Elo rating system. He is also the most recent world xiangqi champion, having won the 2023 title against Lai Ly Huynh in Houston, Texas.
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Meng Chen (right) during a match at the Tianli Jiangong Tournament in Wujiaqu, Xinjiang, China on 15/7/2025. Photo: Sohu |
Meng Chen (right) during a match at the Tianli Jiangong Tournament in Wujiaqu, Xinjiang, China on 15/7/2025. Photo: Sohu
On 12/1/2025, he was among 41 top Chinese xiangqi players disciplined for match-fixing. Meng Chen received a 6-month ban, the lightest penalty issued. On July 12, his ban ended, allowing him to participate in the Tianli Jiangong Tournament, which began on July 13.
The tournament, held in Wujiaqu, Xinjiang, from 13/7 to 15/7, brought together 192 players in the Open section. They competed in a 10-round Swiss-system tournament, with the top eight players advancing to the quarterfinals. Meng Chen finished first with seven wins and three draws. The other seven quarterfinalists were Doan Thang, Vuong Van Quan, Than Gia Vy, Hua Van Chuong, Ha Van Triet, Duong Hao, and Vuong Gia Thuy.
In the knockout stage, Meng Chen defeated Gia Thuy and Van Quan to reach the final. Doan Thang defeated Duong Hao and Gia Vy in the other bracket, setting up the final match on July 15 against Meng Chen.
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From left: Meng Chen, Doan Thang, and Than Gia Vy at the awards ceremony on 15/7/2025. Photo: GDChess |
From left: Meng Chen, Doan Thang, and Than Gia Vy at the awards ceremony on 15/7/2025. Photo: GDChess
20-year-old Doan Thang is one of two Chinese representatives, alongside 17-year-old prodigy Meng Phan Due, competing in the World Xiangqi Championship in Shanghai in 9/2025. Meng Chen and other players involved in the match-fixing scandal were not selected for this international event.
The final between Meng Chen and Doan Thang was played with a time control of 20 minutes per player, plus five seconds increment after each move (20+5). Doan Thang, playing white, drew with Meng Chen, leading to a rapid chess tiebreaker to decide the champion.
In the 5+3 rapid game, the 36-year-old Meng Chen, playing red and going first, opted for the Cannon opening, sacrificing a pawn on the seventh file to allow a black pawn to cross the river early. However, before the former world champion could launch an attack, the black pawn advanced on the left, blocking the path of both the chariot and horse. On the right flank, the black pieces also prevented the red chariot and cannon from applying pressure. Doan Thang gained a significant advantage in the middlegame.
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The board position after move 23...b2.1. Black holds a strong advantage due to the mobility of the two chariots, cannon, and pawn. Red only has the mobile first cannon; the other pieces, including two chariots, a cannon, and a horse, have limited development paths. |
Meng Chen sacrificed his horse to develop his chariot on the eighth file, but this did not lead to an effective attack. Doan Thang advanced his horse on the fourth file, threatening checkmate. After 32 moves, Meng Chen resigned.
Doan Thang earned 50,000 CNY (approximately 182 million VND) for the victory. Meng Chen received 25,000 CNY (91 million VND). Gia Vy won 10,000 CNY (36 million VND) after defeating Van Quan in the third-place match.
Of the 43 Chinese players punished for match-fixing, 10 have completed their bans, including Cao Nham Loi and Meng Chen. The remaining players face bans ranging from one year to a lifetime.
Doan Thang’s win demonstrates the Zhejiang player’s continued improvement, and he should not be underestimated at the upcoming world championship.
Xuan Binh
