The Vietnamese team made a good start in the Zone 3.3 qualifying round of the World Chess Championships 2015 that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on March 7.

Top seed player Le Quang Liem easily defeated Liu Xiangyi of China while second-seeded Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son tied with Bersamina Paulo of the Philippines.

In the women category, players Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Hoang Thi Bao Tram, and Pham Le Thao Nguyen gained victory in their first matches.

Winner in the men category will bring home 2,000 USD while the best women player will receive 1,000 USD before competing in the final round.

The nine-day tournament attracted 44 male and 20 female players from the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

The Vietnamese team sent 22 men and 16 women to the event.

VNA