The “Hanoi International Master Chess Tournament 2022” officially kicked off at the Cultural Exchange Center in Hanoi Old Quarter on June 26.

Chess players are competing at the Hanoi International Master Chess Tournament 2022. Photo: Hanoimoi

According to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the tournament is organized in two phases. Phase A (IMA) takes place from July 26 to 30, and Phase B (IMB) from August 1 to 5.

There are five countries participating in the tournament including Vietnam, Myanmar, UK, India and Ukraine. The tournament is divided into three groups including: international masters, FIDE masters and international reserve masters.

According to the Vietnam Chess Federation, the tournament is expected to give local chess players the opportunity of gaining the standards of women’s international grandmaster (WGM), the male international master (IM).

It also helps increase the international ELO rating for Vietnamese chess players as well as determining the international standard for referees and tournament organizers.

International Master is the second highest official chess title, after International Grandmaster GM. Previously, Vietnamese players who wanted to complete their IM or GM standards often had to go abroad for competitions. The Hanoi-International chess tournament, however, may help them to save time and traveling costs.