Vietnam secures two places at Chess World Cup 2027 through Olympiad results

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the list of national federations awarded places at the World Cup 2027 through their Olympiad performances.

Vietnam ranked 18th in the open section (men's section) and ninth in the women's section.

Young players contribute to Vietnam's Olympiad performance

After some places were transferred to continental qualifying events, 83 federations in the open section, and 45 in the women's section secured places through the Olympiad.

Vietnam's rankings in the allocation lists may affect the country's position in the qualification process and tournament draw.

At the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September, Vietnam's Open team was seeded 47th.

Three leading grandmasters, Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, and Le Tuan Minh, did not compete in the event.

Vietnam fielded young players Dau Khuong Duy, 15, Banh Gia Huy and Pham Tran Gia Phuc, both 17, and Nguyen Quoc Hy, 20, alongside Nguyen Hoang Nam.

The team finished 19th overall and won the gold medal in Group B, which classified teams according to their strength before the competition.

Vietnam recorded six wins, three draws, and two losses in 11 rounds and defeated Norway 3-1 in the 10th round.

Dau Khuong Duy, Banh Gia Huy, and Nguyen Quoc Hy won their respective games against international grandmasters.

Gia Huy and Quoc Hy also achieved grandmaster norms during the Olympiad.

The Vietnamese women's team finished ninth overall after entering the competition as the 21st seed.

The team consisted of Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Vo Thi Kim Phung, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Luong Phuong Hanh, and Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong.

Nguyen Thi Mai Hung won an individual silver medal on Board 5.

Le Quang Liem remains eligible for other qualification routes

Vietnam has yet to select the players who will use its two places at the World Cup 2027.

Under FIDE regulations, the Vietnam Chess Federation must select one member of the corresponding team that competed at the Olympiad 2026 for each place.

The federation may select a player outside the Olympiad squad only if all eligible members of the corresponding team have qualified through other routes or declined to participate.

Grandmaster Le Quang Liem is therefore not eligible for direct selection for the Open place allocated through the Olympiad.

Still, he can qualify for the World Cup 2027 through continental qualifying events, his standard chess rating or other qualification routes.

National federations must announce their selected players for the Olympiad-based places between July 1 and 15, 2027.

The World Cup 2027 is scheduled for the fourth quarter and will feature a new competition format.

The open section will include 224 players divided into four groups, while the women's section will include 128 players divided into two groups.

Players will compete in nine Swiss-system rounds in the opening stage.

The top 16 players in each competition will advance to the knockout stage.

FIDE will determine seedings and group allocations based on players' standard chess ratings at the start of the competition.

Vietnam's ranking in the Olympiad-based allocation list will not determine its players' seedings.