Young talents from Vietnam’s Gia Lai province are making their mark internationally, with a young chess player earning a FIDE title and a high school physics student winning a silver medal at the 2026 European Physics Olympiad.
More than 370 players took part in the 2026 Expanded Chess Tournament to Welcome the New School Year in Quy Nhon, underscoring the growing popularity of chess and the role of grassroots competitions in developing young talent.
Young players from Gia Lai delivered one of their strongest performances to date at the 22nd Central Region Youth Chess and Xiangqi Championship, securing a large medal haul after a week of competition in Huế.
Young chess player Hoàng Tấn Vinh from Gia Lai has received a Certificate of Merit from Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defence in recognition of his outstanding achievements at international competitions, including medals at the World Youth Chess Championship.
Students at FPT University’s Quy Nhon campus have developed an artificial intelligence-powered chess-playing robot capable of competing with human players at multiple skill levels, showcasing a practical application of AI in education and research.
Young Vietnamese chess prodigy Hoàng Tấn Vinh from Gia Lai secured four medals at the 2025 Asian Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, held from November 20 - 30. Competing in the U10 category, Vinh contributed significantly to Vietnam’s medal tally.
