Tran Ngoc Minh Duy wins a hat-trick of gold medals at 2026 National Chess Club Championship

Tran Ngoc Minh Duy, an athlete of the Dong Nai chess team, delivered an outstanding performance by securing a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2026 National Chess Club Championship held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Athletes Tran Ngoc Minh Duy (Dong Nai), Pham Minh Hieu, and Tran Thien Phuc receive medals for the men’s U18 individual standard rapid chess division.

The 2026 National Chess Club Championship took place from April 30 to May 3 in Tan Son Nhat ward (Ho Chi Minh City), attracting 1,358 athletes from 30 teams nationwide.

Athletes contested in chess events, including men’s and women’s individual events, and men’s and women’s team events (three players plus one reserve each), across multiple divisions: traditional U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, and U20 divisions (for athletes who have not previously won medals at national or international championships); standard U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, and U20 divisions; middle-aged (35–50) and senior (51+) categories; and championship and mixed doubles championship categories.

Athlete Tran Ngoc Minh Duy (Dong Nai) stands on the podium receiving a gold medal at the tournament.

In ASEAN chess, players competed in men’s and women’s individual events, men’s and women’s team events (three players plus one reserve each), and mixed doubles across U13, U20, and championship divisions.

At this tournament, the Dong Nai delegation fielded 34 athletes, competing in three formats: rapid, blitz, and bullet chess.

Young athlete Nguyen Pham Lam Thu (Dong Nai) wins the gold medal in the girls’ U8 individual bullet chess standard division.

At the conclusion of the tournament, Dong Nai achieved remarkable success, with all its athletes winning medals, including five gold medals. Tran Ngoc Minh Duy emerged as the most outstanding competitor, securing a hat-trick of gold medals in the men’s U18 individual standard division across all three formats: rapid, blitz, and bullet chess. In addition to Minh Duy’s achievements, Nguyen Phuc Hoang and Pham Minh Hieu won silver and bronze medals, respectively, in blitz chess; meanwhile, Pham Minh Hieu and Tran Thien Phuc each won a bronze medal in the men’s individual rapid chess standard division.

Of the two remaining gold medals, young athlete Nguyen Pham Lam Thu won gold in the girls’ U8 individual bullet chess, standard division. Meanwhile, athlete Nguyen Huu Phat secured gold in the boys’ U12 individual rapid chess, traditional division.

By Huy Anh – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho