Vietnam's men's chess team secured a gold medal in Group B at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, which concluded on September 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The biennial tournament, organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is the world's largest chess competition, bringing together national teams from around 200 countries and territories.
Vietnam's men's chess team win the Group B gold medal at the 2026 Chess Olympiad (Photo: VCF).
For the Olympiad, teams were divided into additional ranking groups based on their average Elo ratings and initial seeding positions. Group A consisted of the top 40 seeded teams, while Group B included the next tier of participants.
Vietnam entered the tournament with an average Elo rating of 2,456, ranking 47th in the seedings and placing the team in Group B.
Represented by Dau Khuong Duy, Banh Gia Huy, Nguyen Quoc Hy and Pham Tran Gia Phuc, Vietnam produced a strong performance throughout the competition. The team recorded six wins, three draws and two losses across 11 rounds.
In the final round on September 27, the Vietnamese players held Kazakhstan to a draw, a result that was enough to secure first place in Group B and clinch the gold medal.
The achievement marked one of Vietnam's most notable results at the Olympiad, highlighting the country's continued progress in international chess competition.
Meanwhile, host nation Uzbekistan captured the overall men's team title in the main championship division contested by the top 40 seeded teams.
The Chess Olympiad is regarded as the most prestigious team event in international chess and serves as a showcase for many of the world's leading players and emerging talents.
