Entering the final two games with a lead after seven rounds, Khuong Duy adopted a solid playing style to maintain his top position. The Vietnamese player drew with grandmaster Brandon Jacobson in round 8 and grandmaster Titas Stremavicius in round 9, concluding the tournament with 7 points from nine games, undefeated (five wins, four draws). This result secured him first place due to superior tie-breakers, despite nine players also achieving 7 points.

The title in Bangkok marks a significant advancement in Khuong Duy's career. Beyond winning one of the region's largest tournaments, the player born in 2011 completed his second grandmaster norm, having already achieved one previously. With his Elo rating already exceeding 2,500, Khuong Duy now needs only one more norm to officially become a grandmaster.

Dau Khuong Duy during his draw with Brandon Jacobson in round 8 of the Bangkok Open in Thailand on 18/4. Photo: Bangkok Open

In the tournament, Khuong Duy won his four initial games against opponents with Elo ratings ranging from 2,000 to over 2,400, before drawing with international master Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy in round 5. A turning point occurred in round 6, when the Vietnamese player defeated grandmaster Loek van Wely in the game on board 1. Subsequently, Khuong Duy drew with two other prominent players, grandmaster Nigel Short and Jacobson, before concluding the tournament with another draw in the final round.

Khuong Duy's performance rating reached 2649, significantly higher than the 2600 requirement for a grandmaster norm. He also gained 18,8 Elo points, solidifying his 4th position in Vietnam.

The Bangkok Open 2026 followed a 9-round Swiss system, attracting 241 players, including 16 grandmasters. With his championship title, Khuong Duy received a prize of 100,000 baht (approximately over 82 million Vietnamese dong before tax), the highest amount for the Masters group.

Following Khuong Duy were Jacobson and grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly, both achieving 7 points but with lower tie-breakers. Veteran player Short ranked 4th, while Van Wely placed 6th.

The Vietnamese delegation also included another representative in the top 12, Pham Tran Gia Phuc, who scored 6,5 points and finished 12th overall. Although he has not yet secured his final grandmaster norm, this result demonstrates the stable progress of the 17-year-old player.

Bangkok continues to be a favorable place for Khuong Duy. Previously, this tournament helped him achieve his international master (IM) norm when he was just 11 years old.

Xuan Binh