Lai Ly Huynh has secured his spot in the semifinals of the Wuyang Xiangqi tournament, a prestigious event in China that gathers many of the country's top active players. The finals, featuring 16 players divided into four groups, are currently underway from 25/2 to 1/3, following qualifying rounds that concluded on 31/1. As the reigning world Xiangqi champion, Ly Huynh received a direct invitation to the finals, joining 15 other players who advanced from the qualifying rounds. Each group consists of four players, competing in a double round-robin format, with only the group winner advancing to the semifinals. A win earns three points, while a draw awards one point.

Lai Ly Huynh during a match at the Wuyang super tournament in Guangzhou Cultural Park, Guangdong province, China on 27/2/2026. *Photo: YCWB*

Competing in Group B, Ly Huynh faced Asian champion Luu Bach Hoanh, Luu Tu Kien, and Quach Phuong Dat. He started with a draw against Phuong Dat, then playing first, defeated Tu Kien. The top Vietnamese player then drew with Bach Hoanh before, playing second, still managed to beat Phuong Dat in their second encounter.

Going into the final group match last night, 27/2, Ly Huynh was in second place with 9 points, level with Bach Hoanh but trailing on tie-breakers. Tu Kien was third with 7 points, while Phuong Dat had only one point. In his last match, Ly Huynh played second against Tu Kien, who, needing a win to keep his hopes alive, played an aggressive game. However, Ly Huynh counter-attacked with a cannon sacrifice, subsequently capturing two red advisors. In the endgame, the Vietnamese master skillfully coordinated his chariot, cannon, pawn, and general to launch a decisive attack on Tu Kien's general, winning after 107 moves. With Bach Hoanh only managing a draw against Phuong Dat, Ly Huynh concluded Group B with 12 points, securing the sole spot in the semifinals. He finished the group stage undefeated, with three wins and three draws.

Ly Huynh's opponent in the semifinals will be Trieu Phan Vy, the winner of Group C. Phan Vy recorded three wins, two draws, and one loss in his group stage matches against Duong Dan, Tuc Thieu Phong, and Tran Hoang Thinh. The other semifinal will feature current world runner-up Doan Thang against Trinh Vu Dong. Doan Thang advanced from Group A undefeated with three wins and three draws, competing against Vuong Vu Boc, Manh Phon Duy, and Phung Gia Tuan. Vu Dong secured 12 points in his group, which included Ngo Nguy, Vuong Hao, and Duong Tu Nam.

The semifinals will be played over two legs today, 28/2. The first leg is scheduled for 13:00, followed by the second leg at 18:00, both times in Hanoi. The time control for these matches is the same as the group stage: 40 minutes per side, with an additional 20 seconds after each move.

By reaching the semifinals, Ly Huynh is guaranteed to receive at least 50,000 Chinese yuan (CNY), equivalent to 190 million VND. The tournament champion will take home 300,000 CNY (1.1 billion VND).

Born in 1990, Lai Ly Huynh is Vietnam's top Xiangqi player. His notable achievements include winning the 2025 World Championship and securing six national titles. He is a frequent participant in major tournaments in China, where he has notably ended the winning streaks of several prodigies.

The Wuyang tournament is a Class A event, representing the highest tier in China's new Xiangqi system. Historically, this tournament was reserved for Chinese "Xiangqi Kings"—players who had won the national individual championship. However, many of these former champions have since retired, been imprisoned, or banned from play due to match-fixing. Consequently, this year's tournament has been opened to all players.

Despite his world championship title, Ly Huynh's form has not been consistently strong recently, as he has not won any titles in tournaments in Vietnam or China. For instance, at the recent Tuu To Do Khang tournament in Henan, China, he lost all four opening matches and was eliminated early from contention, though that event featured a rapid chess format (20+10). This year, Ly Huynh is not only the first non-Chinese player to participate in the Wuyang tournament but also the only one to receive a direct invitation to the finals.

Xuan Binh