The Vietnam Chess Federation has announced a 10-player national team roster. The men's squad includes Banh Gia Huy, Dau Khuong Duy, Dang Hoang Son, Pham Tran Gia Phuc, and Duong Vu Anh. The women's team features Vo Thi Kim Phung, Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Nguyen Hong Anh, and Nguyen Binh Vy.

Khuong Duy, Gia Huy, and Gia Phuc are ranked as Vietnam's 4th, 5th, and 6th players, respectively. Hoang Son is ranked 12th, and Vu Anh 15th. With the exception of 32-year-old Hoang Son, all other players are under 18.

On the women's side, Vietnam's top two female players, Pham Le Thao Nguyen (ranked 1st) and Luong Phuong Hanh (ranked 2nd), are also absent. Mai Hung is currently ranked 4th, Binh Vy 6th, Thuy Duong 8th, and Hong Anh 15th. Vo Thi Kim Phung is not currently listed on the FIDE rankings due to not playing any rated games in the past 12 months, but she is expected to play on the first board for the women's team.

The 2026 chess olympiad marks the 46th edition of the world's largest team event, organized by FIDE. It will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15/9 to 27/9.

This year's lineup shows significant changes compared to the 2024 Olympiad in Hungary, particularly for the men's section. The three players who have been at the top of Vietnamese chess for many years – Quang Liem, Truong Son, and Tuan Minh – are not on the roster.

Earlier, Quang Liem posted a statement on his personal page explaining his absence. The 35-year-old grandmaster clarified that the reason was not due to difficulties in his personal tournament schedule, contrary to some previous reports.

"From 2013 until now, despite living and working in the United States, I have always prioritized making time for important team tournaments", Quang Liem wrote. "In 3/2026, during email exchanges with the leadership of the Vietnam Chess Federation, I confirmed that I would arrange my schedule to play if the Federation could assemble the strongest possible team, including teammates like Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Le Tuan Minh."

The Vietnamese team during their match against Norway in round 8 of the open section at the chess olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, on 19/9/2024. Seated from left: Le Tuan Minh, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, and Le Quang Liem. *Photo: FIDE*

According to Quang Liem, he recently received a response from the Federation stating that assembling such a team was "not feasible". The world's 20th-ranked player then affirmed that the decision to participate or not rested with the Federation. He also suggested that if the strongest players could not be fully gathered, sending young players to gain international experience would be a viable option.

At the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, the trio of Quang Liem, Truong Son, and Le Tuan Minh formed the core of the Vietnamese men's team, surprising many for much of the tournament. The men's team achieved a first-ever feat, winning all five opening matches in the open section, including victories against reigning champion Uzbekistan and strong contender Poland. Ultimately, Vietnam finished 25th in the open section, 23rd in the women's section, and 23rd overall.

The chess olympiad is the world's largest team competition, bringing together most of the top players from countries and territories. Each match consists of four individual boards. A team that scores 2,5 points or more wins the match.

Xuan Binh