Vietnamese chess prodigy Duy remains undefeated in Asian Championship

Vietnamese chess prodigy Dau Khuong Duy has achieved a remarkable feat, finishing sixth in the Asian Individual Chess Championship 2026 and remaining undefeated across all nine rounds. The 14-year-old, with an Elo rating of 2521, showcased his talent against a field of 140 players, many of whom are established stars in Asian chess.

In the final round, Duy secured a crucial victory against Grandmaster Paravyan David (Elo 2593). His performance yielded 4 wins and 5 draws, totaling 6.5 points. This impressive undefeated streak placed him among only nine players in the entire tournament to achieve such a distinction.

Despite his strong showing, Duy narrowly missed qualifying for the World Cup, which is reserved for the top five finishers. He finished just half a point behind the winner, Kong Xiangrui of China, and was level on points with the fifth-place finisher, Yang Zilong, but ranked lower due to tie-breaking criteria.

Another Vietnamese talent, 17-year-old Pham Tran Gia Phuc (Elo 2450), also delivered a commendable performance, ranking 27th with 5.5 points. Gia Phuc's journey included only one loss, against Super Grandmaster Yu Yangyi. He had expressed a willingness to take risks for a win, a strategy that ultimately led to his sole defeat but provided valuable experience.

The championship featured a high level of competition, including numerous strong players from Russia, which joined the Asian Chess Federation in 2023. The presence of powerhouses like Russia, China, India, and Uzbekistan underscored the tournament's prestige. Duy's undefeated run and Gia Phuc's near-perfect performance highlight the growing strength of Vietnamese chess on the international stage.