Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem reaches chess World Cup round of 16 with historic win
Vietnam’s top chess grandmaster Le Quang Liem has advanced to the round of 16 at the 2025 FIDE World Cup after defeating India’s Karthik Venkataraman on Wednesday, logging the best result by a Vietnamese player in the tournament’s history.
Vietnam’s chess grandmaster Le Quang Liem competes against India’s Karthik Venkataraman at the 2025 FIDE World Cup, November 12, 2025. Photo: Chessbase India
Playing black in the second leg of the fourth-round match, Liem used the solid Nimzo-Indian Defense to maintain balance in the opening before gaining the upper hand in the middlegame after Venkataraman’s inaccurate 25th move, Rd1.
Liem capitalized on the mistake with precise play, creating a strong passed pawn on the a-file and later launching a decisive attack with a bishop move to f4.
After 68 moves and nearly five hours of play, Liem converted his material advantage into victory.
The 34-year-old grandmaster surpassed his previous best World Cup runs in 2013 and 2019, when he exited in the fourth round.
His win also marks the first time a Vietnamese player has reached the last 16 of the FIDE World Cup.
Liem will face German grandmaster Alexander Donchenko in the next round.
Bao Anh - Tuan Long / Tuoi Tre News
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnams-le-quang-liem-reaches-chess-world-cup-round-of-16-with-historic-win-103251113112446151.htm