Day 4 (26/12/2025) – the decisive day that determined the names advancing to the semifinal battle for the crown – unfolded with extreme tension. This was a day of deep strategic calculations, where a single small mistake was enough to decide the fate of an entire campaign, and where the mettle of Vietnamese Xiangqi masters was tested against the “steel wall” of international guests.

Round 6: The “Western Venom” Stalled, Lai Ly Huynh Rekindles Hope

The morning spotlight focused on the breakthrough efforts of the host nation’s players. While Nguyen Thanh Bao only needed a safe result, Lai Ly Huynh and Dang Huu Trang were forced to win to keep their hopes alive.

Nguyen Thanh Bao – Wang Jia Rui: A Draw Against the “Tank”

Staying true to his all-out attacking philosophy, “Western Venom” Nguyen Thanh Bao immediately launched with Central Cannon advancing Soldier 3. In response, Wang Jia Rui calmly deployed the extremely solid “Screen Horses with Soldier 3 advance.”
Thanh Bao unleashed the blow “Cannon 8 crossing the river,” pushing his forces deep into enemy territory to compress space. However, Wang Jia Rui proved why he is likened to a “Tank” or a software machine. Every attack by Bao was neutralized with absolute precision. Unable to penetrate the solid concrete-like structure, both sides accepted a draw in an endgame with 2 Chariots, 2 Soldiers, and a full defensive setup of Advisors and Elephants. A highly strategic draw that allowed both players to maintain their positions in the leading group.

Lai Ly Huynh – Ge Jen Yi: A Victory That Rekindled Hope

With his back against the wall, Lai Ly Huynh produced a career-defining game against the Taipei master Ge Jen Yi. Huynh opened with the “Over-the-Palace Cannon” (Cannon 2 to file 6), forcing the opponent into a direct contest of inner strength.
The game was highly complex, with the advantage swinging back and forth. The turning point came when Huynh identified a weakness on Ge’s right flank and mobilized a Chariot–Cannon–Horse task force for a fierce assault. In the endgame, although Huynh held a superior formation (Chariot, Cannon, 2 Advisors), a brief lapse in concentration allowed the position to drift toward a draw. However, under immense pressure, Ge Jen Yi committed a fatal mistake. Lai Ly Huynh coldly “picked off” the pair of Advisors and the Soldier structure, forcing his opponent to resign. This victory lifted Huynh to 4.5 points, reviving his hopes of reaching the Top 4.

The Bright Spot: Dang Huu Trang

A major surprise was Dang Huu Trang – widely regarded as the tournament’s “dark horse.” With excellent defensive technique, Trang defeated Malaysian master Li De Zhi after 102 moves, rising to 4 points and joining the battle for a semifinal spot. Trang’s journey has been truly impressive, having lost only a single game, against Hua Chen Hao.

Round 7: The “Pincer” Strategy and Regret

On the eve of the decisive round, the standings became suffocatingly tense, with five players all tied at 4.5 points. The leading group’s strategy was clear: play solidly to preserve points. Meanwhile, the 4-point group (such as Dang Huu Trang) was forced to win.

Xu Wen Zhang – Lai Ly Huynh: The Steel Wall Closes the Door on Hope

This was regarded as a personal final for Lai Ly Huynh. However, Xu Wen Zhang (a former teammate who knows Huynh’s style inside out) proactively set up an ultra-defensive “fortress” position. Xu’s goal was not only qualification for himself, but also indirect support for his two compatriots (Wang Jia Rui and Hua Chen Hao).
Although the “Southern Young Master” fought with full effort, employing every endgame and middlegame technique to search for cracks, against a deliberately constructed “steel wall” he was forced to share the point. The mistake in Round 1 against Tran Quang Nhat ultimately cost Huynh dearly through inferior tie-breaks.

Dang Huu Trang – Nguyen Thanh Bao: Effort Falls Short

Dang Huu Trang was compelled to defeat senior compatriot Nguyen Thanh Bao to decide his own fate. However, after stumbling in Round 5, “Western Venom” played increasingly refined and deeply strategic Xiangqi. Trang could not create an upset and had to accept a draw.

At Board 2, the two Chinese players Wang Jia Rui and Hua Chen Hao also quickly concluded their game with a strategic draw. This was clear evidence of the thorough preparation and deep calculation of the Chinese Xiangqi establishment at this event.

End of the Qualifying Stage: “Three Heroes vs. Lü Bu”

After seven grueling rounds, a rare scenario emerged: all five leading players (Xu Wen Zhang, Wang Jia Rui, Hua Chen Hao, Nguyen Thanh Bao, Lai Ly Huynh) finished with 5 points. However, due to inferior tie-breaks, Lai Ly Huynh regretfully placed 5th, officially missing out on the semifinals.

The Top 4 elite players have been revealed, creating a classic semifinal scenario inspired by the legend “Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu”:
Nguyen Thanh Bao (Vietnam): the sole host representative, cast as “Lü Bu,” charging alone into battle, fighting fiercely against a ring of Chinese masters.
The trio of “Three Heroes” (China): Hua Chen Hao, Wang Jia Rui, Xu Wen Zhang. All three displayed devastating form, remaining unbeaten throughout the event.

Looking back over all seven rounds of the 7th Phuong Trang Cup, one can clearly see the harshness of a top-tier international tournament, where not only technical skill but also psychological resilience, long-term calculation, and cold-blooded decision-making at critical moments are required. Having five players tied on 5 points after the qualifying stage is a rare occurrence, reflecting the exceptional balance and suffocating tension of this year’s event.

The Chinese players demonstrated frightening consistency. Without flamboyance or excessive risk, they played with clear objectives: control the situation, optimize points and tie-breaks. The strategic draws in Round 7 were not mere compromises, but the result of deep calculations and mutual understanding at the highest level.

On the Vietnamese side, Nguyen Thanh Bao continued to affirm his class and battle-hardened experience. After an impressive start with consecutive wins, he knew how to adjust his style when necessary, playing more solidly in the decisive phase to secure his place in the Top 4. Five points after seven rounds is a well-deserved reward for his perseverance, composure, and superior positional reading.

Lai Ly Huynh is the case that leaves the greatest sense of regret. After stumbling in the opening round, he fought relentlessly to chase the leaders, with the Round 6 victory over Ge Jen Yi standing as clear proof of his class and fighting spirit. However, elite Xiangqi is always ruthless: a single small mistake or an ill-timed draw can render all previous efforts unfinished.

The second stage of the tournament, featuring the Semifinals and Final, promises even greater drama as the gap in strength between players is virtually nonexistent. Fans are eagerly waiting to see whether Nguyen Thanh Bao can break the dominance of the Chinese players to create a surprise, or whether the “Three Heroes” will continue to demonstrate their collective power. Regardless of the outcome, the 7th Phuong Trang Cup has delivered—and continues to deliver—a vivid, compelling, and emotionally rich picture of top-level Xiangqi.

Semifinal Pairings (live at 9:00 AM on 27/12 on HTV7):

Semifinal 1: Hua Chen Hao (CHN) vs. Nguyen Thanh Bao (VIE)
Semifinal 2: Wang Jia Rui (CHN) vs. Xu Wen Zhang (CHN)

Standings After Round 7