The fifth day of competition at the 7th Phuong Trang Cup International Xiangqi Masters Tournament (27/12), held at FUTA Residence – Da Nang Times Square, delivered one of the most tense and dramatic atmospheres since the start of the event. Long, hard-fought games, nerve-racking positional battles, and especially the rapid tiebreak matches decisively shaped the championship picture, while simultaneously pushing the race for lower placings into an intensely competitive phase.

“Western Venom” Nguyen Thanh Bao Shows His Nerves of Steel to Survive the Semifinal

The focal point of the day was the semifinal clash between “Western Venom” Nguyen Thanh Bao and Hua Chen Hao (China) — a matchup widely regarded by experts as a “final before the final.” True to his trademark style, Nguyen Thanh Bao, playing Red and moving first, opted for the Central Cannon with Rook support, launching immediate pressure from the opening. Hua Chen Hao responded with the Screen Horses formation, choosing a solid and patient approach to methodically neutralize each wave of attack and maintain balance on the board.

In the middlegame, the Western Venom showed no hesitation in sacrificing material, repeatedly creating checks and exerting heavy pressure along the central files. At several moments, the position led many spectators to believe that the advantage had tilted decisively in favor of the Vietnamese master. However, from a professional perspective — and according to engine evaluations — the game remained in a razor-thin state of equilibrium, reflecting Hua Chen Hao’s exceptional defensive skills and high technical level.

The classical game concluded in a draw after a prolonged and high-quality battle of wits, forcing both players into a rapid playoff of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment to determine the winner. In the faster time control, despite playing Black, Nguyen Thanh Bao boldly chose the Symmetrical Cannon with distant Rook support, steering the game into a fierce double-edged struggle where nerve, courage, and situational judgment became decisive.

Time pressure caused inaccuracies on both sides. At one point, the Western Venom found himself in serious danger, staring at a potentially lost position, but Hua Chen Hao failed to capitalize on the critical opportunity. Escaping by a hair’s breadth, Nguyen Thanh Bao — with his vast experience and profound middlegame and endgame technique — gradually turned the tables, regained the initiative, and ultimately forced his opponent to resign. This dramatic victory propelled the Western Venom confidently into the final amid thunderous applause from the home crowd.

Xu Wen Zhang Advances to the Final After a Tightly Controlled Battle

In the second semifinal, the all-Chinese encounter between Wang Jia Rui and Xu Wen Zhang unfolded in a far more cautious and restrained manner. Having faced each other numerous times in domestic competitions, both players understood one another deeply and therefore opted for a safe, risk-averse approach. The classical game ended rather quickly in a draw.

In the subsequent rapid tiebreaks, Xu Wen Zhang proved more effective at seizing the rare opportunities that arose, securing a decisive victory to claim the remaining ticket to the final — thereby setting up the most anticipated showdown of the tournament.

Fierce Ranking Battles in the Chasing Group

Alongside the semifinals, Round 8 of the tournament also produced several notable results in the ranking group. After narrowly missing out on a semifinal berth, “The Tank” Lai Ly Huynh entered the placement matches with strong determination to improve his standing. Against his long-time rival Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang, the two battled for more than 70 moves before agreeing to a draw in a tightly locked position with no realistic winning chances for either side.

At other boards, the tournament’s “dark horses” continued to trouble seasoned veterans, producing surprising results and making the race for positions from the top five downward extremely close and unpredictable heading into the final day.

At the conclusion of Day Five, the 7th Phuong Trang Cup International Xiangqi Masters Tournament officially determined its two finalists: Nguyen Thanh Bao and Xu Wen Zhang. The two Chinese players Hua Chen Hao and Wang Jia Rui will contest third place, while the remaining classification matches promise further excitement on the final day.

With its high professional quality, elite-level confrontations, and heart-stopping drama extending down to the very last seconds of rapid play, Day Five is widely regarded as a pivotal highlight of the tournament. It has ushered the 7th Phuong Trang Cup into a thrilling final stretch, where the nerve, experience, and true class of the world’s top masters will be tested to the utmost.

Final Day Schedule

After an emotionally charged day of competition, the dream final of the tournament has been confirmed:

• Final (Championship match for USD 25,000): Nguyen Thanh Bao (Vietnam) vs. Xu Wen Zhang (China).
• Third-place playoff: Hua Chen Hao (China) vs. Wang Jia Rui (China).
• Other exciting placement matches: Lai Ly Huynh vs. Cheng Yin Lung; Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang vs. Lee Wen Ze; Dang Huu Trang vs. Wang Yang Bei.

The final matches are scheduled to take place on the morning of December 28, bringing to a close a highly competitive and dramatic edition of the Phuong Trang Cup.

Standings After Round 8