Lai Ly Huynh carried the black pieces in the final, which began at noon Hanoi time. His opponent, 20-year-old Yin Sheng, opened aggressively with a double-cannon attack that pinned down Lai's rook and horse.
At one point the Chinese player even sacrificed a cannon to grab both elephants, a daring strike that put the Vietnamese champion under heavy pressure. The game tilted in Yin’s favor, but one careless miscalculation in the middlegame cost him a horse. Ly Huynh pounced instantly, capturing the piece and unraveling his rival's defense.
From there, the balance shifted. Though he later lost a cannon, Lý Huynh traded it for a key advisor, weakening Yin's fortress. In the endgame, Ly Huynh pushed pawns across the river and coordinated them with his rook and cannon to mount a relentless assault. Yin, running short of material, watched as his defenses collapsed piece by piece. After nearly two hours of play, the young Chinese star extended his hand in resignation.
The victory carried enormous symbolic weight. Since the world championship was first staged in 1990, China had won all 18 editions of the men's individual standard event, regarded as the pinnacle of xiangqi.
The win not only highlights Huynh’s exceptional talent and determination but also marks a milestone achievement that elevates Vietnamese Xiangqi to the global stage.
Born in 1990 in Vinh Long, Huynh is a six-time national champion. He frequently competes in major tournaments in China, including the 2023 Jia League Team Championship, where he played alongside China’s No.1 player Wang Tianyi and helped secure the team title.
The 2025 World Xiangqi Championship took place from September 22–27 in Shanghai, China, featuring 51 players in the men’s individual standard event. After eight rounds, Huynh and Duan Sheng advanced to the final as the two top scorers, while other players competed in the ninth round for final rankings.
On his way to the final, Huynh recorded five wins and three draws, finishing second after eight rounds, tied on points with both Duan Sheng and Peng Rui. His tiebreak score was lower than Duan’s but higher than Peng’s, earning him a place in the championship match.
HY