Their achievements reflect years of dedication, intensive training and strong family support as they pursue opportunities to compete and learn on the international stage.
Chess prodigy earns FIDE candidate master title
Hoàng Tấn Vinh, a sixth-grade student at Sao Viet Primary, Secondary and High School in Dien Hong Ward, began playing chess after discovering the game during a bookstore visit with his father in late 2020.
His father, Hoàng Văn Công, bought a chess set after noticing his son's interest and initially taught himself the basics so they could learn together. As Vinh's ability developed, the family found a coach to provide more structured training.
Vinh now spends three to four hours a day practising chess alongside his academic studies.
His efforts have produced a string of international results. At the 2025 Southeast Asian Youth Chess Championship in Malaysia, he won individual gold in rapid chess and silver in standard chess, along with three team gold medals in rapid, standard and blitz.
At the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Thailand, he added an individual bronze in blitz, a team silver in rapid and two team gold medals in blitz and standard chess.
He also won silver in blitz and bronze in rapid at the World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Greece.
Vinh continued his success in 2026, winning two gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Shenzhen, China. That year, he was also awarded the Candidate Master (CM) title by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
Behind his achievements is a family that manages the financial, educational and logistical demands of international competition, including his studies, accommodation and travel.
“Every time I see the national flag raised or hear our country’s name announced at the awards ceremony, I feel truly moved and proud,” Công said.
Vinh said he hopes to compete in major tournaments, learn from leading players and take on greater challenges while bringing more achievements to his hometown and country.
Physics student wins silver at European Olympiad
Another young talent from Gia Lai, Nguyễn Vũ Mạnh Khang, has been pursuing his passion for Physics through a combination of mathematical reasoning, experimentation and persistent study.
Khang, a 12th-grade Physics student at Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted in Quy Nhon Nam Ward, said he is particularly motivated by the process of using mathematical models to explain complex natural phenomena and solving challenging logic problems.
“The deeper I delve into Physics, the more I realize that behind every problem lies a new perspective on the world,” Khang said, adding that his curiosity motivates him to test himself in larger competitions and ask new questions.
To secure a place on Vietnam’s team for the 2026 European Physics Olympiad (EuPhO) in Sweden, Khang underwent intensive training in advanced Physics, data analysis, experimental thinking and creativity, with particular emphasis on EuPhO’s open-ended problems.
Before the competition, he had won first prize in Physics at the provincial 12th-grade gifted student competition and second prize at the 2025–2026 national high school gifted student competition. He was also selected for Vietnam’s national team selection for the 2026 International Olympiad.
At EuPhO 2026, held in Sweden from June 12 to 16, Khang was one of five members of the Vietnamese team. He won a silver medal as Vietnam finished with one gold and four silver medals.
In 2026, Khang was also the only student from Gia Lai to be exempted from the national high school graduation examination and granted direct university admission.
He plans to pursue advanced studies in Physics or Science and Technology at university, while continuing to strengthen his theoretical knowledge and modern experimental skills.