This action comes less than a month after controversies surrounding the selection process for the Vietnamese national team participating in the 2026 Chess Olympiad. At that time, many top players expressed dissatisfaction with the method of soliciting opinions and confirming the roster through chat groups.
The VCF's new documents, including Decision 123 and Notices 103, 104, and 105, were signed by President Pham Van Tien. These stipulate that all decisions regarding the selection, replacement, or removal of athletes from the proposed Olympiad roster must be based on verifiable records, documents, or other forms. The federation explicitly prohibits using personal messages, verbal exchanges, or content from Zalo groups as the sole basis for professional and administrative decisions.
Instead, professional opinions must be compiled, confirmed, and stored in written form or other verifiable formats. The goal is to ensure transparency, prevent future disputes, and provide a basis for accountability when necessary.
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Three of the five male team players Tran Tuan Minh (left), Le Quang Liem (right), Le Tuan Minh (second from right), and coach Bui Vinh (second from left), at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: FIDE
The VCF also established an eight-step personnel selection process for the 2026 Olympiad. This process begins with defining professional criteria, reviewing the available players, documenting athletes' desire to participate in writing, and then proceeding through various levels of appraisal before submission to state management agencies for review.
Under this mechanism, the federation is responsible for professional review and recommendations, while the authority to summon the national team rests with the Sports Authority of Vietnam. This clear delineation aims to prevent misunderstandings that preliminary discussions or provisional lists equate to official call-up decisions.
A notable aspect is the VCF's development of specific priority criteria for athletes. Players with the highest FIDE standard Elo rating in Vietnam at the time of final roster selection are placed in the top priority group. Athletes with outstanding achievements at the national championship or official international tournaments such as the World Cup, Grand Swiss, or Asian Championship are also considered according to a clear order of priority.
The federation simultaneously applies a mandatory accountability mechanism. If a player from a high-priority group is not nominated for the national team, the professional department must clearly state the reasons in writing. These reasons may relate to form, health status, or other objective factors affecting their ability to compete.
Similar regulations apply to the coaching staff and team leaders. According to the VCF, the selection of coaches is not solely based on reputation or tenure but must be linked to professional competence, experience working with elite athletes, and management abilities at international team competitions. Proposal dossiers must clearly demonstrate professional grounds rather than qualitative assessments.
Speaking with VnExpress, President Pham Van Tien stated that the VCF will continue to evolve towards a more positive and professional direction in the future. Consequently, more regulatory documents will be issued to standardize the federation's working procedures.
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Pham Le Thao Nguyen (left) and Luong Phuong Hanh (right). Photo: FIDE
The aforementioned changes follow a controversial incident in May. At that time, International Master Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Woman Grandmaster Luong Phuong Hanh publicly reacted to the selection process for the Vietnamese women's team participating in the 2026 Olympiad.
According to Thao Nguyen's account, VCF Vice President Nguyen Minh Thang requested players confirm their availability within a short timeframe, just over one day, via a Zalo group. As the Olympiad in Uzbekistan was not fully funded, athletes needed to consider self-financing or finding flight sponsorship before deciding. However, the response time was too short, and the announcement was sent over a weekend.
Consequently, Thao Nguyen and Phuong Hanh were not included in the preliminary roster after responding a few hours late to the deadline, despite being two of Vietnam's top current players. Mr. Minh Thang later stated he would persuade two players on the list to withdraw so that Thao Nguyen and Phuong Hanh could participate. On 3/6, the VCF confirmed Mr. Minh Thang's resignation.
Beyond the Olympiad team, the VCF announced it would extend the standardization of selection procedures to national youth teams. The federation plans to develop a long-term set of evaluation criteria, combining competitive performance, professional development, and growth potential, rather than solely relying on Elo ratings.
Under the new direction, talented young athletes who have not yet accumulated sufficient Elo ratings will still have the opportunity for consideration if they meet other professional criteria. This approach is expected to help Vietnamese chess discover and nurture more talents in the future.
Xuan Binh
