Khoi is crowned world youth U12 chess champion

Nguyen Anh Khoi wins in the U12 World Youth Chess Championships in Durban, South Africa. - Photo nguoiduatin

HA NOI (VNS) – Nguyen Anh Khoi yesterday became world U12 chess champion after beating Russian Andrey Esipenk in the final match of the World Youth Chess Championships 2014 in Durban, South Africa.

Khoi, the HCM City-born player, defeated his tough opponent after 59 moves in a four-hour game. The former U10 champion, seeded fifth for his Elo rating of 2208, bested 105 players with seven wins, three draws and a loss in 11 games to score 8.5 points and take the gold medal.

Zarubitski Viachaslau of Belarus took the silver medal while Taghuzadeh Rayan of the United States took the bronze.

Khoi has so far bagged two gold medals and a silver medal after taking part in three world youth chess events. He was the U10 champion in 2012.

In addition to Khoi’s victory, Viet Nam also won a silver medal in the girls’ U8 category courtesy of Luu Thi Bich Ngoc.

Ngoc, also from HCM City, was seeded 31st and won eight, drew one and lost two games to score 8.5 points. Davaakhuu Munkhzul of Mongolia took the gold medal.

Viet Nam sent eight chess players to this year’s world event on September 20 to 29. About 1,000 young chess players from around the world took part in the 11-round tournament, based on the Swiss system, for males and females in six age group categories of U8 and U10, as well as U12, U14, U16 and U18.

In previous years, Vietnamese chess players triumphed at world youth chess events, including Dao Thien Hai, U16 champion in 1993, and Nguyen Thi Dung, U12 in 1994. Also in the list of champions are Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, U10 in 2000; Le Quang Liem, U14 in 2005; and Tran Minh Thang, U8 in 2008. – VNS

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