Behind the spotlight of a young chess player

After eight years of discovering and dedicating himself to chess, Bui Quang Huy (12 years old), a 6th grader from Class 6/20 at Hoa Binh Secondary School in Tam Phuoc Ward, Dong Nai Province has won numerous medals at both domestic and international tournaments, bringing glory to Vietnamese sports in general and to Dong Nai sports in particular.

Young chess player Bui Quang Huy looks at the medals he has won over six years of competition. Photo: Nga Son

Behind the medals, the applause, and admiration lies a persistent journey of the young chess player, marked by countless quiet hours of training, intense matches, and even defeats that once seemed impossible to overcome.

A persistent pursuit of passion

Bui Quang Huy shared that when he was four, his mother gave him a wooden chess set. At the time, he was curious and fascinated by the chess pieces. Seeing his interest, his father focused on teaching him the basic rules, how to move the pieces, how to coordinate them to form attacking and defensive positions, and how to protect key pieces. He also regularly played with his father to practise and improve his skills.

According to his parents, the chess movement in Tam Phuoc Ward had not developed strongly in the past. Huy’s father therefore had to connect with several chess clubs in Ho Chi Minh City. From then on, every weekend, regardless of the weather, he arranged his work to take Huy to Ho Chi Minh City so that he could play with other kids and sharpen his skills.

When Huy was six, he took part in his first tournament, the National Youth Chess Championship, held in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 2020. Huy recalled that the first tournament brought him unforgettable experiences and memories. Sitting down at the board, he felt nervous because it was his first time competing in a match with a referee present, with time strictly controlled and the rules applied closely. Thanks to his own efforts, he won a silver medal in standard chess category, a significant milestone that opened the way to a more structured competitive path.

After that initial success, his parents recognised his talent and strong potential in chess, and sought teachers to guide him. Huy said he mainly studied online with his teachers for about one hour a day. On weekdays, he spent four to five hours a day training. On weekends, he devoted even more time to training and playing to gain experience.

Six years have passed since his first tournament, during which, Huy has taken part in many competitions both at home and abroad. At numerous domestic and international events where his parents could not accompany him, he always tried to be independent, take care of himself, and remain cautious in every situation. Driven by passion and persistent effort, he has reaped many “sweet fruits” over the past six years. Most recently, at the 2025 Asian Youth Chess Championship held in Thailand in late November 2025, Huy won two silver medals in the team category, helping Vietnam's delegation finish third overall.

"Besides encouraging in terms of spirit, the school always creates favourable conditions for Bui Quang Huy to balance his studies with participation in domestic and international tournaments. Huy's achievements help spread the school sports movement and inspire students to practise and develop comprehensively."

NGUYEN THI PHU, Principal of Hoa Binh Secondary School.

Family always by his side

In addition to his passion and personal persistence, Huy’s achievements have also been supported by the steady companionship of his family.

Bui Thi Diem, Huy's mother, shared that unlike other kids at his age, Huy did not start speaking until he was 30 months old. As their first child, the parents had little experience, but she realised that their child's language development was slower than expected. She turned to teachers at a specialized school in Hanoi for advice on her son’s condition and learn how to teach him at home. Notably, when Huy began speaking, he could already read words, and at around 3 years old, he was able to read books intended for preschool children.

Beyond his reading ability, Huy began to show both a passion for and an aptitude for chess at the age of four. What made his parents especially happy was that his interest did not come from pressure, but emerged naturally.

To help him pursue chess, Bui Ngoc Huu, Huy's father, has always been by his side. Huu said that at first, he taught his son basic chess knowledge and skills. After about a year, Huy's progress was rapid. From the time Huy was five, Huu took him to Ho Chi Minh City every weekend evening to join a chess club. Notably, while taking his son to play, he also learned chess himself so he could improve alongside his son and truly accompany him. He also collected chess books for Huy to study further.

It is clear that behind the spotlight of the young chess player Bui Quang Huy is not only his own passion and persistent hard training, but also the quiet support of his parents, who are willing to set aside personal interests to witness their child fully pursue his passion and grow step by step.

By Nga Son – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha