48-year-old Vietnamese defeats four Chinese xiangqi masters

Nguyen Thanh Bao emerged as the standout performer at the ongoing Vietnam-Guangdong International Tournament after winning four of his first five matches against Chinese opponents, drawing the remaining game.

While his teammate, grandmaster Lai Ly Huynh, made a slower start with a series of draws, the 48-year-old Nam Dinh native has once again underlined his formidable reputation in Chinese xiangqi circles.

In the opening two rounds, Bao defeated Liang Yunlong and Zou Haitao, two prominent members of the group known as the 'Ten Tigers of Guangdong.'

His victory over Liang helped Vietnam secure a narrow 11-9 win in the first round, with each round comprising 10 matches between the two teams.

Bao was held to a draw in the third round by Zhu Shaojun, a player in the prime of his career. He returned to winning form in the fourth by defeating the well-known Huang Wenjun.

His toughest challenge came in the fifth round against Chen Yuqi, a 22-year-old ranked among the top 20 xiangqi players in China.

Although the 'Ten Tigers of Guangdong' are commonly regarded as a group of non-professional players, many of its members have earned master titles and some have even risen to the top ranks of Chinese xiangqi.

They are described as non-professionals mainly because they did not come through a formal training system or pursue full-time careers as competitive players.

Facing one of China's strongest players, Bao maintained his excellent form and secured a convincing victory despite playing with the black pieces.

More importantly, Bao's victory against Chen Yuqi helped Vietnam halt a run of three consecutive round defeats and cut Guangdong's overall lead to 3-2.

After two days of intense competition, the Vietnamese team finally began to find its rhythm. Lai Ly Huynh also claimed his first win of the tournament in the fifth round, defeating Zhu Shaojun after opening with four straight draws.

Bao's consistency provided the foundation for Vietnam's recovery. The 48-year-old remained composed under pressure, once again showing why he has long been held in high regard by China's xiangqi community.

Nguyen Thanh Bao is widely respected in both Vietnamese and Chinese xiangqi circles for his aggressive playing style, marked by sharp attacks, complex variations and bold piece sacrifices.

He holds the title of Special-grade International Grandmaster, a rank regarded as equivalent to China's Special-grade Grandmaster title, the highest distinction awarded to the country's elite xiangqi players.