Born in 1998, Wang Jia Rui is currently a Xiangqi Master and an indispensable pillar of the Zhejiang Xiangqi team. Launching from the platform of a Team Gold Medal at the 2019 National Mind Sports Games, he has shed the label of "young talent" to transform into a true force in the planet's fiercest arena: the China Xiangqi League (Jia Lian Sai) in the 2024–2025 period.
Wang Jia Rui is a typical embodiment of the "Orthodox" school. Distinctly different from the "unorthodox tricks" or adventurous risks of the street xiangqi scene, he prioritizes systematic play and academic tightness. Wang's openings are elaborately prepared, often using classical variations but flexibly refined to eliminate risks. It is this caution that gives him a high draw rate, turning him into a "tough nut to crack" even for top International Grandmasters.
The year 2025 marks the completion of Wang's tactical thinking. He stands out with his skill in controlling middlegame space, persistently suffocating opponents with durable internal strength. A bright highlight at the end of the year was his exemplary victory over famous player Chen Ling Xi at the National Individual Championship. Notably, at the 1st Asian Mind Sports Festival (November 2025), he proved his versatility by winning the Bronze Medal in Bullet Xiangqi – an achievement showing that when acceleration is needed, the "tank" Wang Jia Rui remains extremely sharp.

Xu Wen Zhang is the brightest young talent of the Chengdu (Sichuan) Xiangqi team – one of the harshest "training crucibles" in China. Coming from youth tournaments and gaining early fame thanks to superior online blitz xiangqi skills, Xu was once considered a phenomenon with a "flying dagger" playing style full of risks. He prefers sacrificing pieces to gain initiative, being particularly dangerous when using the "Angel Pointing the Way" opening to push the game into a fiery counter-attacking position right from the first moves.
However, since 2024, Xu Wen Zhang has made a shift in tactical thinking at the China Xiangqi League arena. Shedding the image of an "impulsive young horse," he plays with more composure and depth. Although still maintaining fast calculation speed, he has restrained lucky moves, replacing them with methodical and tight middlegame preparation.
The year 2025 marks Xu's explosion in major tournaments. He became a "nightmare" in knockout rounds, typified by the key victory over He Wen Zhe at the National Individual Championship. Most notable was the summit clash in the National Games Semi-finals with "Prodigy" Meng Fan Rui – a match likened to a battle between the two brightest stars of the Gen Z generation.
Statistics show that when playing Red (moving first), Xu Wen Zhang achieves a win rate of up to 60%, especially when deploying his forte formation "Palcorner Cannon" (Cross-Palace Cannon). The unpredictable variations of this opening help him control the Chariot files well and exert suffocating pressure on the opponent's weak flank. Xu Wen Zhang is vivid proof of combining natural talent with professional training to reach the pinnacle.

As a bright young talent of the Shanghai Xiangqi team – one of the most traditional cradles in China, Hua Chen Hao is likened by experts to a "rough diamond" gradually shining. The first mark affirming his name was the Third Place at the "Wei Kai Cup" in 2022 – a tournament considered the "Carp leaping over the Dragon Gate" for young players to step into the ranks of Xiangqi Masters.
Belonging to the "Gen Z" generation growing up with technology, Hua Chen Hao's style bears the strong breath of the AI (Artificial Intelligence) era. He possesses an extremely rich and flexible opening repertoire, not constrained by old molds. Instead of rote learning variations, he has the ability to apply diverse complex variations to put opponents into unfamiliar positions. 2024 was an important accumulation period; he not only rubbed shoulders in the First Division League (Jia Lian Sai) but also expanded his international influence with the Runner-up title at the World Confucius Cup U18 category.
The year 2025 witnessed an explosion in Hua Chen Hao's "maturity." At the 15th National Games of China, he played exceptionally in the professional mixed team event, excellently ranking 1st individually with 7 points, becoming the main scoring "spearhead." Subsequently, at the prestigious "Bao Bao Cup" invitational – a gathering of many high-level masters – he also finished in a convincing 6th place.
The impressive victory over Liu Zi Yang at the 2025 Xiangqi League is the clearest proof of Hua's progress in the middlegame. He is gradually transforming from a potential young player into a reliable pillar, representing the promising next generation of Shanghai Xiangqi in particular and China in general.

Originating from the renowned Guangdong (China) Xiangqi cradle, Li De Zhi was once a notorious "Underground Xiangqi King" before choosing to play for the Malaysia national team. He is considered an icon, a "high mountain" of Southeast Asian Xiangqi, who directly elevated the level of this region to approach world powerhouses.
Entering 2024, when many opinions suggested that the burden of age had dulled his sharpness, Li De Zhi staged a spectacular "rejuvenation" that shocked the professional circle. He returned to China and swept a series of harsh open tournaments – gatherings of the fiercest "street" players – with championships at the Qingkou Cup and Guanyang Cup. These victories affirmed that his class remains of "Central Plains" value.
The current Li De Zhi has shed the "vigorous, piece-sacrificing" style of his youth to shift to a "seasoned and cunning" demeanor. He plays extremely pragmatically, "picking the meat from the vegetables," using vast experience to lure opponents into a complex middlegame maze and then slowly tightening the noose. In 2025, he continued his absolute dominance in his second homeland by winning the Malaysia National Championship with an incredible streak of 5 consecutive wins. In the international and regional arena, he captured additional titles at the MEGA3 Cup (Malaysia Xiangqi Elite Tournament) and Sanden Cup.
In particular, Li De Zhi's endgame skills have reached a state of "pure perfection," with a forte in applying magical "Cannon - Horse - Soldier" combinations. He is likened to the "benchmark of level" for the region; any Southeast Asian player wanting to reach the international level must pass the "test" named Li De Zhi.

Born in 2006 and the pride of Selangor Xiangqi, Lee Wen Ze is rising strongly to become a future pillar of Malaysian Xiangqi. If Li De Zhi is the attacking "locomotive," then Lee Wen Ze is likened to a sturdy "shield," playing the role of an excellent "supporting actor" in major campaigns. The pinnacle was the Men's Team Bronze Medal at the 19th World Championship (in 2025), where his stability contributed decisive points for the home team.
Growing up in the technology era, Lee Wen Ze's style bears the strong imprint of software. He possesses a neat, modern, and increasingly perfected opening system. Unlike the flamboyance of his predecessors, Lee chooses the style "Safety is the best policy." He plays extremely consistently, minimizing elementary errors and becoming an uncomfortable "block of ice" for any opponent wanting a quick win. It is this steadfastness that makes him the nemesis of impatient players.
The year 2025 recorded a remarkable advancement in Lee Wen Ze's status. He caused a stir when climbing to Top 1 Malaysia Rating in March 2025 and closed the year in the Top 5 overall – numbers that speak volumes about stability. At the MEGA3 2025 tournament, he excelled to win the Runner-up title, only ranking behind the "legend" Li De Zhi. Besides, with the U35 youth championship at the IOI Mall Cup and permanent presence in the Top 6 of the largest national tournaments (35th Individual Championship, 23rd Malaysia Master), Lee Wen Ze has proven he is no longer just a potential but a real force, ready to reach the international level.

If one has to choose a face representing the spirit of discipline and the rise of Singaporean Xiangqi in the past decade, it must certainly be International Grandmaster Woo Tsung Han. He is the uncrowned "King of Xiangqi" in the Lion City with an unprecedented record, 11 times National Champion and holding the No. 1 position on the rankings for 10 consecutive years.
Woo Tsung Han's playing style accurately reflects the Singaporean mindset: Scientific, pragmatic, and maximally efficient. He built for himself an extremely annoying "concrete" defensive style. When playing Black (moving second), Woo Tsung Han rarely risks a counter-attack but often actively steers the game to the endgame – where he utilizes computer-like precision technique to grind down opponents. This very coolness helped him receive the prestigious Meritorious Award at the Singapore Sports Awards 2024.
The 2022-2023 period was a dazzling peak in his career; Woo Tsung Han once caused a shock when overcoming Vietnamese players to win the Individual Standard Xiangqi Gold Medal at SEA Games 31 (Hanoi, 2021). Subsequently, he and his teammates won the Blitz Xiangqi Gold Medal at SEA Games 32 (2023) and set a historic feat at the 18th World Championship (Houston, 2023): Individual 3rd Place and Men's Team Champion – breaking the monopoly of traditional xiangqi powerhouses.
Entering 2025, despite facing fierce competition, Woo Tsung Han maintains the class of a major star. He ranked 14th individually at the 19th World Championship and was an elite face in Group A of the World Open Rapid Xiangqi Tournament. To this day, Woo Tsung Han remains a "boulder," the most formidable counterweight that Vietnamese players must overcome in the regional arena.

Born in 1992, Low Yi Hao is currently an International Master and an indispensable key card of the Singapore Xiangqi team. He has a methodical development path, starting impressively in youth tournaments before affirming his No. 1 or No. 2 position in the Lion City and representing the nation in many World Championships. In the domestic arena, Low Yi Hao maintains dominance with many major titles, typically the convincing championship at the 4th Singapore Wuliangye Cup (2024).
Regarding xiangqi skills, Low Yi Hao is a player who favors a fiery double-attacking style, often using high-confrontation openings instead of playing for a draw. He is ready to accept risks, pushing the game into complex clashes to seize the initiative. This bold mindset sometimes makes his form lack stability in long tournaments, but turns him into an extremely dangerous and unpredictable "assassin" in knockout matches.
Entering 2025, Low Yi Hao's gameplay has reached "maturity." He created a great resonance when winning many impressive victories over top Chinese International Grandmasters. These wins came not only from recklessness but also thanks to creative middlegame moves, completely breaking traditional theoretical molds.

As the most veteran and prestigious face of the Chinese Taipei xiangqi community, Chao I Fan possesses remarkable international combat experience. He is an indispensable factor of the team in major campaigns such as the 19th Asian Games (Hangzhou) and World Championships. His boldest personal mark is the Runner-up position in the Overseas Division at the Yang Guanlin Cup in 2018 – one of the toughest tournaments in the Xiangqi world.
Regarding xiangqi skills, Chao I Fan is dubbed the master of the "Soft Fist" school. Contrary to the clashing style, he chooses a deep, quiet style, using stillness to control motion, leaning towards deep defense and subtle counter-attacks. In 2024, experts likened him to a "steel wall" thanks to his ability to withstand pressure extremely well. Chao's forte technique is the flexible "Sandwich Horse" (Counter-Screen Horse) , which he applies proficiently to neutralize the fierce offensive power of the Central Cannon, often turning danger into safety with sharp "carbine shot" counter-attacks.
Currently, besides the role of a key player, Chao I Fan also acts as a "bridge" between generations. He actively updates and disseminates modern training methods (combining AI), contributing to shaping the thinking for the promising young generation of Taipei players.

Dubbed a "Prodigy" and currently the number one hope of the Chinese Taipei xiangqi scene, Ge Jen Yi owns a remarkable achievement record compared to his age. He gradually affirmed his natural talent when crowning the World U18 Championship in 2017, before creating a great resonance at the top level with a 5th place finish overall at the 2022 World Championship. Ge Jen Yi also went into Taiwan Xiangqi history as one of the youngest players to reach the 8-dan rank.
Unlike his scholarly appearance, Ge Jen Yi's xiangqi skills bear a strong nuance of fiery attack. Deeply influenced by the Sichuan (China) xiangqi school – the cradle of magical and unpredictable "Angel Pointing the Way" lines – his playing style is extremely liberal, focusing on clashing middlegames and flamboyant checkmate tactics. He does not hesitate to trade blows fairly with strong opponents to seek victory instead of playing for safety.
The year 2025 marks Ge Jen Yi's absolute dominance at home as he successfully defended the title of "Taiwan Xiangqi King" for the 3rd consecutive time. Not only "King of the Island," he also maintains the feeling of top-level xiangqi by actively participating in international online tournaments (Xiangqi League or invitational tournaments), thereby accumulating valuable experience to be ready to break through into the ranks of the world's top grandmasters.

Fung Ga Zen is acclaimed by experts as the "Rapid Xiangqi God of War" of the Hong Kong xiangqi scene. He possesses lightning-fast reflexes and the ability to handle situations brilliantly in time-deprived contexts – a rare quality that makes every opponent wary. In the region with an extremely thriving Xiangqi foundation, the Greater Bay Area (Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macau), in 2024, Fung Ga Zen always maintained a solid position in the group of top championship candidates.
Fung Ga Zen's style goes against the "book-learning" trend of modern Xiangqi. He relies less on textbook opening variations but focuses all his strength on the middlegame. With an "unorthodox" playing style, rich in imagination and full of boldness, he often actively pushes the game into a "chaotic battle" position to utilize his forte of extremely strong natural calculation. It is this gameplay that helps him create mutative moves, breaking the opponent's solid defensive structure.
The pinnacle of Fung Ga Zen's career must be the Men's Individual Runner-up title at the 2022 World Championship (held in Kuching, Malaysia), where he only lost narrowly to the champion. Besides, he is an irreplaceable pillar, contributing greatly to bringing home the precious medal in the mixed team event for the Hong Kong team at the 19th Asian Games (Hangzhou). He is currently the symbol of the combination between natural talent and seasoned international competition bravery.

Born in 1996, Cheng Yin Lung is not yet an old veteran in age, but in terms of international competition seniority, he is considered one of the most weather-beaten "keepers of the flame" of the Hong Kong xiangqi scene. He is a historical witness in important campaigns of the national team, including participating in the harsh arena of the 19th Asian Games (Hangzhou) and especially the feat of winning the precious Men's Team Bronze Medal at the 2022 World Championship – where he played the role of a reliable stopper in important positions.
If Fung Ga Zen is the flame of attack, then Cheng Yin Lung is the calm iceberg. In 2025, although his reflexes and calculation power are no longer at their peak, Cheng maintains his key position thanks to his superior ability to "read" the opponent's psychology. He possesses a "comprehensive attack and defense" style, rarely making elementary mistakes and knowing how to regulate the tempo of the game to lure the opponent into a strategic trap. This stubborn stability makes him an extremely difficult opponent to beat in standard xiangqi games.
Currently, Cheng Yin Lung together with Fung Ga Zen form the core "dynamic duo" of the Hong Kong team. One is boldly unconventional, one is deep and steady – the combination of these two extremes helps the Hong Kong team maintain formidable competitiveness in international team tournaments.

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Born in 1990, Lai Ly Huynh – dubbed the "Prince of the South" – is not only the current No. 1 player in Vietnam but also a symbol of professionalization in this intellectual sport. He is a pioneer in breaking old training mindsets, replacing them with scientific opening research combined with software support. This methodical preparation has helped him narrow the level gap, bringing Vietnamese Xiangqi to a fair footing with the "giant" China.
Lai Ly Huynh's career flourished brilliantly when he became the best "foreign soldier" in the history of the China Xiangqi League. In the Hangzhou team jersey, he fought alongside "The Visitor from Outer Space" Wang Tianyi, fighting and forging his bravery against the world's top grandmasters. Huynh's style is likened by experts to "Flowing water and floating clouds" – comprehensive in attack and defense, tight, with few loopholes, and always maintaining extremely high accuracy in every endgame.
After the historic milestone in 2022 in Malaysia – where he and Nguyen Thanh Bao won the Team Gold Medal and he individually won the Silver Medal – Lai Ly Huynh continued to persevere in hard training. And by 2025, a real "earthquake" occurred; Lai Ly Huynh officially crowned the World Champion. This is not only the peak of his personal career but also a dazzling golden mark in global Xiangqi history as for the first time a non-Chinese player stepped onto the highest podium. This feat of Lai Ly Huynh has forever changed the landscape of world Xiangqi, proving that the dominance of the Chinese xiangqi scene is not inviolable.

In the Vietnamese Xiangqi village, if Lai Ly Huynh is the symbol of standard science, then Nguyen Thanh Bao is the embodiment of genius quality and romance. With the nickname "West Poison" – one of the Five Greats – he is famous for his "unorthodox tricks," magical and full of killing intent. Once winning the World Runner-up title in 2009 (the best personal achievement in Vietnamese Xiangqi history for over a decade) and 2 times National Champion (2007, 2011), Nguyen Thanh Bao unexpectedly "retired into seclusion" due to health reasons, leaving a vast void for fans.
His return in 2021 in the Binh Phuoc jersey was likened to a fairy tale. Immediately, "West Poison" proved that class is permanent when he excellently defeated Lai Ly Huynh himself to crown the National Champion in 2022. Not stopping there, he completed his title collection with the Individual Gold Medal at SEA Games 32 (2023) in Cambodia.
In the 2024–2025 period, although his physical strength is no longer as vigorous as in his youth, Nguyen Thanh Bao remains the most fearsome "assassin" in key matches. His gameplay is deeply "street-style," always seeking clashes, sacrificing pieces to gain initiative, and being particularly dangerous in positions where a win is a must. He does not play by the textbook but plays with the terribly sharp intuition of a genius.
The combination of Nguyen Thanh Bao and Lai Ly Huynh created a perfect "Deadly Duo": One as steady as a mountain, one as mutable as clouds. This resonance helped Vietnam break China's monopoly in the world team event, affirming the position of the No. 2 Xiangqi powerhouse on the planet.

Born in 1994, Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang is the elite representative face for the 9x generation of Vietnamese Xiangqi. Although still quite young compared to the veterans, "Quang Nhoc" (his affectionate nickname) already possesses a massive "golden board" of achievements that any professional player would desire. He is evaluated by experts as the most all-round player model today when continuously appearing in National Finals in all formats, from standard xiangqi, rapid xiangqi to blitz xiangqi.
Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang's style is a combination of the method of the modern xiangqi school and a bit of the "dustiness" and cunning of street xiangqi. He possesses a fiery attacking style, the ability to handle complex xiangqi positions extremely quickly, and a stubborn competitive mentality. The pinnacle of his career is the National Champion title in 2020 and especially the Team Gold Medal in blitz xiangqi at SEA Games 31 (2022) – where he proved his lightning reflexes are not inferior to top regional opponents.
In 2023, Nhat Quang continued to affirm international class when winning the Runner-up title at the 6th Phuong Trang International Xiangqi Cup – one of the most prestigious and harshest tournaments held in Vietnam, gathering many excellent Chinese players. Stability and the ability to explode at the right time make Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang a dangerous "detonator" of the Ho Chi Minh City team as well as the Vietnam National Team.

Born in 1970, Dao Quoc Hung is one of the most senior and prestigious pillars of the Ho Chi Minh City xiangqi scene. He is favored by experts and fans with a nickname full of spirit: “The Stubborn General.” This name not only speaks to his resilient fighting bravery, "losing this glue, setting another glue" (never giving up), but also accurately describes his playing style: tough, enduring, and extremely hard to subdue.
Dao Quoc Hung's forte is the "Screen Horse Defense" – a type of counter-attacking defense requiring patience and deep calculation. When playing Black, he is like a solid fortress wall, ready to endure every stormy offensive wave to wait for the opportunity to launch a decisive "return of the horse" counter-attack. It is this stubbornness that has helped him become a formidable opponent, many times making top masters sweat to find a way into his goal. Together with legends like Truong A Minh and Trenh A Sang, Dao Quoc Hung was once likened to an indispensable piece, creating the famous "Chariot - Cannon - Horse" tripod, helping Saigon xiangqi dominate domestic tournaments for a long time.
Dao Quoc Hung's career is marked by dazzling milestones both domestically and internationally. He twice consecutively won 3rd Place at the National Championship (2011, 2012), affirming stability at the highest level. In the international arena, Dao Quoc Hung is a familiar face representing Vietnam in prestigious tournaments like the Han Xin Cup. Here, he had games of a lifetime, fairly confronting Chinese International Grandmasters like Wang Tianyi or Zhao Xinxin, contributing to raising the position of Vietnamese Xiangqi on the world map.

Born in 1972, Nguyen Tran Do Ninh is a case of late blooming in Vietnamese Xiangqi. Although starting later than many peers, with natural talent and serious research, he made rapid strides to join the ranks of the nation's top "Generals."
In the xiangqi world, he is respectfully given the nickname "Golden Wheel Dharma King." This nickname accurately reflects his playing style: profound, powerful, and leaning towards counter-attacking defense (using stillness to control motion). Not rushing into a head-on attack, Nguyen Tran Do Ninh's gameplay is based on a foundation of "profound internal strength" in the middlegame and endgame. He patiently builds a tight defensive system, waiting for the opponent to get impatient and reveal loopholes to launch a punishing blow.
Regarding openings, he is a modern player, not sticking to old books but always adapting to circumstances. When playing Red, his forte is "Angel Pointing the Way" or "Elephant Opening" – soft, probing formations suitable for long-term internal strength contests. When playing Black, he often uses the orthodox "Screen Horse" to create a solid fortress.
Nguyen Tran Do Ninh's career is associated with the image of "the great challenger." He twice reached the Final of the National Championship (2009, 2013) but had to accept the Runner-up position when facing two of the most outstanding geniuses in Vietnamese Xiangqi history: the late IG Nguyen Vu Quan and "Prince of the South" Lai Ly Huynh. However, in the international arena, he left a bold mark with 5th Rank in Asia (Malaysia 2009) and a Team Silver Medal at the Asian Indoor Games 2009 (Ha Long), affirming the position of a master with both talent and virtue.

Born in 1976, Ton That Nhat Tan is likened to an enduring "great banyan tree" of the Vietnamese xiangqi village in general and the leading bird of Da Nang xiangqi in particular. Throughout more than two decades of top-level competition, he has always been an irreplaceable pillar, representing the identity of Central region Xiangqi: quiet, gritty, but full of internal strength.
Not possessing a flamboyant style or speed like the younger generation, Ton That Nhat Tan is famous for his "regular, powerful" style. He possesses a solid opening foundation and is particularly dangerous in the middlegame and endgame phase thanks to deep calculation ability. The title of "Vietnam Xiangqi Sage" Champion in 2017 is the clearest proof of his battlefield bravery under the pressure of the public and media.
When many thought the time of the 7x "veterans" had passed, Ton That Nhat Tan made strong affirmations. The Championship of the National Strong Players Tournament in 2021 was a big boost, showing that "old ginger is spicier." He continued to maintain his position in the elite group with a Standard Xiangqi Bronze Medal at the 2022 National Championship and a Blitz Xiangqi Bronze Medal in 2018.
Not only successful in domestic tournaments, Ton That Nhat Tan also had the honor of wearing the National Team jersey to attend the Asian Team Championship, contributing valuable experience to young teammates. He is currently the ideal model of professionalism and enduring passion, a reputable "shield" that every young player wanting to rise must find a way to overcome.

Born in 1976, Uong Duong Bac is a special case in the Vietnamese xiangqi village, a master who matured from the fierceness of Saigon's street xiangqi rings before stepping onto the peak of fame with the National Championship in 2019. He is the embodiment of the combination between street survival instinct and top-level tactical thinking.
Fans respectfully call him the "King of Same Direction Cannons" because of his absolute loyalty and ability to apply the "Same Direction Cannons" formation to a superior level. This is a "fifty-fifty" playing style, accepting clashes right from the first moves, creating a "do or die" position, winner takes all. Uong Duong Bac's middlegame is extremely sharp; he is particularly sensitive to the opponent's weaknesses, however small, to launch a finishing blow. Besides, his rich endgame knowledge helps him handle tug-of-war games neatly.
2013 is considered a golden milestone in his international career. At the 13th World Championship (Guangdong, China), Uong Duong Bac caused a shock by winning 4th place individually – an extremely high position, only ranking behind the host Chinese players. In the same year, he continued to affirm world-class level with 5th place overall at the 3rd World Mind Sports Games in Beijing.
With the World Team Bronze Medal in 2013 and the National Championship, Uong Duong Bac is not only a famous player but also a symbol of uncompromising fighting spirit. He proves that, stepping from the "streets" to the "great ocean," if one has talent and bravery, one can become a dragon.

Born in 1990, Dang Huu Trang is a "unique" case in the history of modern Vietnamese Xiangqi. Unlike the majority of masters who usually reveal talent from childhood (like Lai Ly Huynh or Nguyen Vu Quan), Dang Huu Trang came to professional Xiangqi quite late. It was not until 2010 that he first "came down the mountain" to attend the National tournament, and in 2012 officially joined the Binh Phuoc team.
Throughout the 2010–2016 period, Dang Huu Trang's name was quite quiet; he was considered a mid-level player, hardworking but without a breakthrough. However, 2017 became a historic milestone where he created a real "earthquake" shaking the professional circle. At that year's National Championship, with an inspired form and silent preparation, Dang Huu Trang did what few dared to think of, defeating the defending champion Lai Ly Huynh – who was at the peak of his form and considered "invincible" at that time.
That shocking victory sent Dang Huu Trang to cloud nine, officially crowning him Champion and becoming the 11th Xiangqi King of the Vietnamese xiangqi scene (counting since the tournament was included in the national system in 1992).
Dang Huu Trang's coronation did not rely on a flamboyant or naturally gifted style, but was the crystallization of "Diligence makes up for intelligence." He possesses an extremely persistent playing style, deep research into theory, and nerves of steel in decisive moments. Dang Huu Trang's story became a great inspiration for the amateur xiangqi movement, proving that: Starting slow does not mean one cannot finish at the No. 1 position.

Born in 1997, Ha Van Tien together with Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang are considered the most formidable "deadly duo" of the current Vietnamese 9x xiangqi generation. Famous very early with the nickname "Young Hero of the Capital" (when still playing in Hanoi), he affirmed his name in the continental arena with an Individual Bronze Medal in the U18 category at the Asian Team Championship in 2014 (Fujian, China).
Unlike the flashiness or "earth-shattering" piece sacrifice attacks of many colleagues, Ha Van Tien is loyal to the philosophy of "Heavy Sword has no Sharp Edge" (A heavy sword needs no blade). His playing style is not flowery or colorful but extremely concise, solid, and pragmatic. He possesses profound internal power, prioritizing safety and only launching a decisive blow when the opponent reveals the smallest loophole. It is this stubbornness and nerves of steel that turned him into a top blitz xiangqi expert.
The pinnacle of Ha Van Tien's career is the Team Gold Medal in blitz xiangqi content at SEA Games 31. Fighting alongside his compatible teammate Nguyen Minh Nhat Quang, he showed destructive form to bring glory to the Fatherland. Currently, although holding the title of National Master, Ha Van Tien's real strength and battlefield experience always make top Grandmasters wary.

Born in 1980, Tran Chanh Tam holds a special position in the Vietnamese xiangqi village; he is the true disciple of the late famous master – International Master Mai Thanh Minh (nicknamed Nine Swords of Dugu). Inheriting the thinking from his master, Tran Chanh Tam is not only a player but also a talented Xiangqi researcher.
Tran Chanh Tam's style is a perfect combination of academia and actual combat. He is famous for a methodical opening system, always preparing traps from novel variations that few people know. However, behind those fiery moves is an astonishing certainty. His trademark brand is the "Accumulating small to achieve big" style – persistently cherishing the smallest advantages in space or endgame material to gradually suffocate the opponent. This is a gameplay requiring extreme patience and middlegame-endgame technique.
Tran Chanh Tam's career spans many decades with remarkable stability. He was once a pillar of the HCMC team with an impressive streak of achievements: Bronze Medal at National Sports Games 2006, 6th place at Asian Masters 2009. The peak of his early period was the Men's Individual Gold Medal at the National Team Championship in 2009.
After a quiet period, by 2025, Tran Chanh Tam made a top-level comeback that thrilled fans. At the age of U50, he once again crowned the Men's Individual Gold Medal at the National Team Championship 2025. This feat not only affirms the class "old ginger is spicier" but also proves that modern xiangqi thinking and a solid theoretical foundation are weapons that never go obsolete.

Born in 1996, Vu Quoc Dat is living proof of the saying "Great talent matures late" (people with great talent often succeed later, but surely). Starting professional competition quite late in 2017, his speed of advancement was extremely impressive. Vu Quoc Dat's path followed solid steps, from the National Standard Xiangqi Bronze Medal 2019, to the Silver Medal at the Strong Players Tournament 2020, and finally a brilliant explosion in 2024.
The year 2024 was the golden milestone in Vu Quoc Dat's career when he excellently crowned the National Champion, officially inscribing his name on the "Investiture of the Gods" of Vietnamese Xiangqi as the 15th Xiangqi King in history. This feat is not only a personal title but also an acknowledgment of his position in the contemporary "Four Pillars" group.
Vu Quoc Dat does not chase after flashy styles or adventurous killing. His style is shaped as "Stable as Mount Tai" – playing extremely calmly, solidly, and prioritizing maximum efficiency. He rarely makes mistakes, possessing resilient defensive ability and sharp endgame transition skills. It is this "know yourself, know your enemy" gameplay that helped him achieve high results in the international arena with 6th Individual Place at the Asian Championship 2024, thereby being awarded the title of International Master.
Currently, Vu Quoc Dat is evaluated by experts as one of the young players with the best psychological foundation and technique in Vietnam, a solid pillar for goals of conquering peaks in the future.

In the Vietnamese Xiangqi village full of players with a dusty street style, Nguyen Hoang Lam emerges as a distinct difference. He is given the unique nickname "Model Lam" by fans (to distinguish from Long-armed Lam – a player of the same name). This nickname implies not only his bright appearance but also accurately describes his playing demeanor: poised, relaxed, and gallant like an artist on the xiangqiboard, contrary to the tension often seen in top tournaments.
Nguyen Hoang Lam is a National Master with profound strength, a "familiar face" at the harshest playgrounds such as the National Individual Championship and the National Strong Players Championship. He is considered an uncomfortable "rock" that anyone wanting to go deep into the inner rounds must overcome. The confrontations between him and famous players like International Master Uong Duong Bac, or colleagues Duong Nghiep Luong, Nguyen Huy Lam always take place fiercely, bearing a strong dedication and very high professional quality.
Not only famous in orthodox tournaments like the Phuong Trang arena, Nguyen Hoang Lam is also a "star" in the digital era. Thanks to a methodical style, bright and easy-to-understand moves, his games become valuable materials widely shared on YouTube platforms and Xiangqi social networks. He is a bridge bringing the beauty of professional Xiangqi closer to the mass audience, proving that flamboyance and efficiency can totally go hand in hand.

Born in 1990, Tran Thanh Tan is an elite product of the Ho Chi Minh City Xiangqi "training furnace" – the cradle producing many illustrious masters. Maturing from this fiercely competitive environment, Tran Thanh Tan has forged for himself a solid fighting bravery and became a familiar face in the national A1 group.
Not pursuing complex variations or stormy attacking styles, Tran Thanh Tan's style is encapsulated in the word "Minimalist." He strictly adheres to the philosophy "Know yourself, know your enemy," playing extremely pragmatically and disciplined. It is this simplicity but tightness that turns him into an uncomfortable "nemesis" for top masters. When facing higher-ranked players, Tran Thanh Tan often maximizes resilient defensive ability, cherishing every small opportunity to hold a draw or punish opponents when they are impatient to win.
2018 is considered the peak of his form. At that year's National Championship, Tran Thanh Tan caused a big surprise when overcoming a series of formidable names to win the Standard Xiangqi Silver Medal. Also in this year, excellent form took him to the National Team to attend the Asian Team Championship, where he and his teammates finished in 5th place overall.
Currently, Tran Thanh Tan remains an important pillar of Saigon xiangqi, a player model that anyone wanting to step onto the throne must be careful when facing.

Born in 1980, Nguyen Anh Quan is an elite representative face and one of the most influential players of the Northern xiangqi scene today. Fans often call him by the intimate but respectful nickname "Quan Bun" (Quan the Noodle). This nickname partly portrays his unique playing style, a tough, soft style but extremely hard to break, like noodles wrapping tightly around the opponent.
Nguyen Anh Quan is famous for a professional, stable playing demeanor and very deep opening preparation. He is an all-round player model, able to play at top level in all three formats: standard, rapid, and blitz xiangqi. 2018 is considered the most brilliant season in "Quan Bun's" career when he showed destructive form at the National Championship, excellently winning the Rapid Xiangqi Gold Medal and Standard Xiangqi Bronze Medal.
Continuing the momentum, in 2019, at the tournament gathering top elites – the National Strong Players Championship – he continued to maintain his position in the "Four Pillars" group with a double Bronze Medal in both Standard and Blitz Xiangqi contents.
Nguyen Anh Quan's stability over the years comes not only from natural talent but also thanks to seasoned battlefield bravery. He is currently the "big brother," a solid spiritual support for the younger generations of Northern Xiangqi in dramatic confrontations.

Born in 1979, Nguyen Anh Man is one of the veteran pillars of Da Nang xiangqi – the most traditional unit in the Central region. He is a typical model for perseverance and durability, a "silent warrior" not noisy in the media but always making opponents wary on the xiangqiboard due to his stubbornness and seasoned battlefield experience.
Nguyen Anh Man's career truly flourished brilliantly when he entered the "forties" age – a stage where many players begin to decline. 2019 is considered his peak season with a big professional boost, winning the Standard Xiangqi Bronze Medal at the National Championship and excellently winning the Standard Xiangqi Silver Medal at the National Strong Players Tournament. Continuously standing in the Top 3 at the two harshest tournaments in the national competition system shows that his form at that time was extremely stable.
Not stopping there, by 2021, Nguyen Anh Man continued to affirm the saying "Old ginger is spicier." At the National Strong Players Xiangqi Championship that year, he set a double Bronze Medal in both Standard and Blitz Xiangqi contents. This achievement is particularly impressive because blitz xiangqi is often considered a playground for the youth with fast reflexes, but Nguyen Anh Man proved that experience and bravery are also a formidable type of "speed."
With a gameplay "Solid as a rock," leaning towards certainty and tight middlegame maneuvering, Nguyen Anh Man currently remains a reputable stopper of the Da Nang team, a shining example for generations of young players of tireless fighting will.

Born in 2004, Phan Nguyen Cong Minh is currently the "precious gem" of Ho Chi Minh City Xiangqi. He has a "prestigious orthodox school" background as a direct student of International Master Tran Chanh Tam. Forged in the fiercely competitive environment at Ky Hoi Quan Club – one of the busiest Xiangqi "fires" in Saigon – Phan Nguyen Cong Minh soon revealed the qualities of a major star.
Inheriting the thinking from his teacher, Phan Nguyen Cong Minh's gameplay takes "Stability" as the root. However, the difference of youth is the capability of "Creative attacking." He does not play xiangqi mechanically or passively wait for time, but always knows how to create waves from positions that seem most balanced. The combination of a solid theoretical foundation (from the teacher) and bold breakthrough (from the student) has created a comprehensively attacking and defending Phan Nguyen Cong Minh.
In 2022, when only 18 years old, he contributed greatly to bringing home the Standard Xiangqi Team Gold Medal at the National Sports Games – the most prestigious arena in the domestic competition system held once every 4 years.
By 2025, Phan Nguyen Cong Minh truly exploded and affirmed the status of a versatile star. At the National Team Championship 2025, he caused a shock by winning the Individual Gold Medal, simultaneously capturing Bronze Medals in Blitz and Bullet Xiangqi contents. Not stopping there, at the National Excellent Players Championship and National Championship of the same year, he was continuously in the Top 3 of rapid xiangqi content.
Not only "making waves" domestically, Phan Nguyen Cong Minh also reached out to the great ocean with the achievement of 5th Place in Individual Rapid Xiangqi at the Asian Mind Sports Games 2025 (Singapore). This impressive streak of achievements proves he is the future, the worthy heir to the golden generation of Saigon xiangqi.

Born in 1982, Tran Quang Nhat is one of the representative and most influential faces of Binh Dinh Xiangqi for more than two decades. He is a witness, and simultaneously a key factor creating the "Golden Generation" of the Martial Land xiangqi in the 1995–2000 period. During this time, Tran Quang Nhat contributed greatly to helping the provincial gifted team dominate national youth tournaments with a streak of consecutive Gold Medals, laying a solid foundation for Binh Dinh's position on the Vietnamese Xiangqi map.
Not only successful at the youth level, when stepping onto the top professional playground, Tran Quang Nhat continued to be a pillar bringing home many precious personal medals for the home province at National Championships. His playing style bears the strong temperament of the Central region: enduring, resilient, and always competing with the highest dedication spirit.
Currently, Tran Quang Nhat has moved to a new chapter in his career, becoming a silent "Ferryman." Working at the Binh Dinh Sports Training and Competition Center, he brings all his actual combat experience and methodical thinking to transmit to the next generation. He plays a key role in nurturing young talents and keeping the fire for the local xiangqi movement. For Tran Quang Nhat, current achievement is not only personal medals, but the maturity of the students he passionately trains.

Born in 2003, Doan Duc Hien is an elite product of the Ho Chi Minh City youth training system. Belonging to the Gen Z generation, Hien did not choose the path following common textbook molds. He is likened by experts to an interesting "unknown" due to his ghostly and pragmatic "San Shou" (Unorthodox/Freestyle) playing style.
Doan Duc Hien's style is built on stubbornness and flexible adaptability. He does not try to crush opponents with methodical openings but often pushes the game into "bony," structure-less positions. This "guerrilla," "tenacious" gameplay is extremely annoying, causing even top masters to easily get psychologically frustrated, lose patience, and fall into traps when facing him.
Doan Duc Hien's development path is a convincing straight line upwards. After affirming the No. 1 position in his age group with the National U20 Gold Medal in 2023, he immediately transformed strongly to the adult playground. In 2024, he excellently won the Individual Gold Medal of the Traditional Board at the National Team Championship.
By 2025, Doan Duc Hien's form reached maturity when he continued to dominate with the Individual Gold Medal of the Traditional Board at the National Excellent Players Championship. Consecutive top placements in this board show that Doan Duc Hien has completely surpassed the general level and is ready to fairly challenge the most elite group of Vietnamese Xiangqi.

Born in 1993, Nguyen Quang Nhat is a young talented player from the Quang Ninh team. From a young age, he was methodically trained under the instruction of famous player Nguyen Tien Cuong (Hanoi), then continued to be led by two illustrious teachers, National Master Vu Huu Cuong and "Xiangqi King" Dang Huu Trang. The guidance of great teachers along with tireless efforts helped him make rapid strides in recent years.
In the Northern xiangqi circle, he is better known by the familiar nickname "Nhat i e," bearing a bold liberal "street" color and personality. Nguyen Quang Nhat's playing style is defined by two words "vigorous and powerful." He prefers adventurous gameplay, ready to accept risks for fierce double attacks. "Nhat i' e" strongest point is creative, unpredictable moves and the ability to seize opportunities extremely quickly in the middlegame, frequently creating mutative situations that leave opponents unable to react in time.
2024 was truly an explosive year for "Nhat i e" when he created an earthquake at the 1st Ha Thanh Four Heroes Xiangqi Tournament. This is a tournament gathering "four great masters," where he had to face giant mountains like "West Poison" Nguyen Thanh Bao or "Quan Bun" Nguyen Anh Quan. Before the fiercest opponents, Nguyen Quang Nhat showed a destructive form, overcoming all to crown the Champion convincingly.
Nguyen Quang Nhat's achievement board is also very remarkable with the National A1 Individual Standard Xiangqi Bronze Medal in 2022, 3rd Individual Place in Standard Xiangqi at the National Sports Games 2022, and especially the Team Gold Medal in Rapid Xiangqi at SEA Games 32. The victory at the Four Heroes tournament and the SEA Games Gold Medal are not only titles, but a steel affirmation that on a "beautiful day," with excited psychology and boldness, "Nhat i e" is strong enough to take down every monument of the Vietnamese xiangqi village.