HDBank initiative to raise next generation of chess masters

March 12, 2018 | 10:43

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On March 10, HDBank's first international chess tournament was held in the capital of Hanoi, following the bank's past seven tournaments hosted in Ho Chi Minh City.

The opening ceremony of HDBank's International Open Chess Tournament 2018

Over the last seven years, the HDBank International Open Chess Tournaments welcomed more than 1,100 contestants, promising hundreds of players to register for the 2018 tournament.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of The Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation (FIDE), addressed the chess tournament for the first time: "Given the past accomplishments that the chess community and HDBank contributed to the popularity of the sport as well as the advancement of players in Vietnam, I have a firm belief that the country will successfully host FIDE's upcoming chess tournaments in the most professional manner, as the country is already fully equipped for the task."

hdbank initiative to raise next generation of chess masters

President of FIDE, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, at the formal conversation with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam

The head of the World Chess Federation added that HDBank's international chess tournaments would potentially place Vietnam onto the world chess map.

In the afternoon of March 10, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam offered his appreciation towards FIDE's support for the country's chess development, saying, "Chess is one of the few sports where Vietnamese players could earn a spot among the world's leading masters."

FIDE's president at a formal meeting with the Deputy PM and the Vietnamese chess community

Additionally, Dam suggested FIDE to support Vietnamese chess in training, refereeing, and hosting future international events.

The DPM also stressed that the Vietnam Chess Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should cooperate closely with FIDE to popularise chess across the country by hosting more chess tournaments and chess events as well as introducing chess as an extracurricular school activity, fostering the sport among young generations.

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