by Tien Thanh
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Golden opportunity: Nguyen Thi Thanh An will be a leading player in the women's chess division at the Asian Games in China. |
The chess team will attend the Games with 11 members, including six male players. Along with Liem, there will be Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy and Cao Sang.
The female members are Hoang Thi Bao Tram, Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Nguyen Thi Tuong Van.
"Because this is the biggest sports event in Asia and only four sets of medals are up for grabs, it will be a fierce competition," said Lam Minh Chau, head coach of the chess team attending the Games.
"With the recent impressive performances from Son and Liem, however, Viet Nam can hope for a medal or a good result, with a little bit of luck," Chau said, adding that China and India were the chief obstacles.
HCM City-based and 19-year-old Liem will carry the biggest hope for the country's first chess gold medal.
Liem won the prestigious Aeroflot Open chess tournament in March and shared the first place at Moscow Open, then finish second at the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, an elite chess tournament.
He reached semi-final at the Cap D'Agde rapid chess tournament in France last month.
"It is difficult to say anything in advance but I will try my best to bring home our first gold medal in chess," the world No 44 and international grand master, Liem, said.
It would be quite an achievement for Liem, who will be making his debut at the Asian Games next week, if he can win a medal.
Another hope is IGM Truong Son, who has had a rather impressive year.
Son finished third at the Aeroflot Open and took second place at the Biel Chess Festival.
He recorded an impressive victory over former world champion Russian Anatoly Karpov at the Cap D'Agde tournament.
Both Liem and Son play in the men's individual rapid and the team's traditional chess events.
The team will arrive in Guangzhou next Wednesday. — VNS
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