The final match between Ly Huynh and Vu Dong was moved up by a few hours, with the first leg taking place in the morning and the second leg in the afternoon. Ly Huynh, playing with the red pieces in the first leg, gained a slight advantage but could not convert it into a win. Consequently, the two players agreed to a draw.

Lai Ly Huynh during the Wuyang Grand Prix final at Guangzhou Culture Park, Guangdong province, China on 1/3/2026. *Photo: YCWB*

In the second leg, Vu Dong had the advantage of moving first. After 15 moves, the Chinese representative secured a winning advantage with a strong offensive and a pawn crossing the river. With a calm and steady playing style, Vu Dong maintained pressure, even moving another pawn across the river. Meanwhile, Ly Huynh attempted to counterattack but was unsuccessful. After 38 moves, Vietnam's top player conceded defeat.

Despite losing the final, Ly Huynh received 180,000 Chinese yuan (CNY). This maiden championship earned Vu Dong 300,000 CNY. Zhao Fanwei, whom Ly Huynh defeated in the semifinals, secured third place, while world runner-up Yin Sheng finished fourth.

Ly Huynh's runner-up finish at the Wuyang tournament was an unexpected success. Before the tournament, he had not even expected to advance past the group stage. However, in that stage, the world champion eliminated Liu Baihong, Liu Zijian, and Guo Fengda to reach the semifinals. In the semifinal match on 28/2, he again defeated Fanwei.

In total, Ly Huynh played 10 games in the tournament, achieving 4 wins, 5 draws, and one loss. He stated that his most memorable game was in the final round of the group stage, where he played with the black pieces and defeated Zijian to secure his advancement.

The Wuyang Cup, held annually since 1981, is one of China's most prestigious xiangqi tournaments. Initially, the tournament was exclusively for "xiangqi kings," the national individual champions of China. However, after many "xiangqi kings" were banned from competition for life, and some even faced legal issues, organizers have expanded the participant pool in recent years. Ly Huynh received a special invitation to participate without going through qualifiers, as he is the reigning world champion.

Xuan Binh