International Master Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam claimed the title at the 2026 Bangkok Open, finishing first on tiebreaks in a tightly contested field that featured 16 Grandmasters and more than 240 players overall.
The nine-round Swiss tournament, held at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa from April 11 to 19, produced a dramatic finish as nine players ended level on 7 points. Dau, seeded 11th with a rating of 2502, emerged on top thanks to superior tiebreak scores after an unbeaten run of five wins and four draws.
He was followed by American Grandmaster Brandon Jacobson and India’s Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly, who also scored 7 points but fell short on secondary criteria. Veteran English Grandmaster Nigel Short placed fourth, while Dutch Grandmaster Loek van Wely, once ranked in the world’s top 10, finished sixth in the crowded leading group.
The event once again confirmed its status as one of Southeast Asia’s strongest open tournaments. The Masters section alone drew a deep international field, including established Grandmasters, rising International Masters, and ambitious juniors seeking title norms. With classical time controls and one round per day, the competition tested both endurance and consistency over more than a week of play.
Dau’s path to the title reflected that balance. He opened with four straight wins against lower-rated opponents, quickly moving to the top boards. A draw in round five against Indian IM Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy slowed his momentum slightly, but the turning point came in round six. Playing on board one, Dau defeated van Wely, a result that reshaped the standings and established him as a serious contender for first place.
From there, he adopted a more pragmatic approach. Draws against Nigel Short in round seven and Brandon Jacobson in round eight allowed him to maintain his share of the lead heading into the final round. Another draw, against Lithuanian Grandmaster Titas Stremavicius, proved sufficient to secure the title once tiebreaks were calculated.
Dau’s performance rating of 2649 comfortably exceeded the 2600 threshold required for a Grandmaster norm. The result also earned him his second GM norm, bringing him within one step of the game’s highest title. In addition, he gained nearly 19 rating points, reinforcing his position among Vietnam’s top players.
Yet the tournament was far from a one-man show. Jacobson, the top seed, delivered a steady campaign, remaining in contention until the final round. Ganguly, a former second to World Champion Viswanathan Anand, showed his experience with consistent results against both peers and lower-rated opponents. Nigel Short, at 60, demonstrated remarkable resilience, sharing the lead deep into the event and finishing just outside the podium.
The depth of the field was evident in the standings. Among the top nine players on 7 points were competitors from the United States, India, England, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Israel, and Uzbekistan, highlighting the international character of the tournament. Several International Masters also performed strongly, with India’s Aronyak Ghosh and Uzbekistan’s Saidakbar Saydaliev finishing in the top ten.
Vietnam had another notable presence in the standings. IM Pham Tran Gia Phuc scored 6.5 points to finish 12th, staying within reach of a potential Grandmaster norm but ultimately falling short. His result nonetheless added to a solid overall showing for the Vietnamese delegation.
The Bangkok Open continues to play an important role on the regional chess calendar. Its combination of strong opposition, norm opportunities, and professional organization makes it an attractive destination for players aiming to advance their careers. The 2026 edition followed the traditional format of nine classical rounds under FIDE regulations, with games played at a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, and a 30-second increment from move one.
Beyond the competition itself, the event also featured a blitz championship and a range of prizes, with the Masters winner receiving 100,000 baht. As in previous years, the tournament provided valuable experience for young talents while offering established players a chance to stay sharp in a demanding setting.
For Dau Khuong Duy, the victory represents a significant milestone, but it also fits into a broader narrative. At just 15 years old, he is part of a new generation of Vietnamese players making steady progress on the international stage. With two Grandmaster norms now secured and his rating already above 2500, he is well positioned to achieve the title in the near future.
Still, the Bangkok Open was ultimately defined by its competitiveness. The narrow margins separating the top finishers, the mix of youth and experience, and the constant shifts on the top boards ensured that the outcome remained uncertain until the very end—an illustration of why open tournaments of this caliber continue to captivate players and fans alike.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.