Vietnam’s top female players miss Olympiad after controversial selection process

Vietnam’s women’s chess team heads to the 2026 Olympiad without its two highest-ranked players, following a disputed registration process that has sparked criticism over professionalism, transparency, and preparation.

The issue centers on the absence of Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Luong Phuong Hanh, currently the No. 1 and No. 2 female players in Vietnam. Both confirmed they intended to participate in the global event but were excluded after missing a rapidly changing registration deadline by a few hours.

The 2026 Chess Olympiad, organized by FIDE, will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 15 to 27. It is widely considered the largest team competition in the sport, often described as the “Olympics of chess,” with around 200 participating nations and territories.

A last-minute process

According to Thao Nguyen, the timeline for registration began on the afternoon of May 9, when officials from Vietnam’s sports authority informed coaches via a chat group that players would need to cover their own airfare if they wished to compete. The initial deadline was set for May 10.

Shortly afterward, a separate chat group for players was created to relay the same information. On the morning of May 10, a further update introduced a stricter deadline: 5 p.m. that same day. At the same time, players were instructed that all registrations had to be submitted through coaches in the coaches’ group.

The sequence created confusion. While the players’ group displayed the specific 5 p.m. cutoff, the coaches’ group – the only channel authorized to submit registrations – only referenced a general May 10 deadline.

Thao Nguyen said she and Phuong Hanh finalized their funding arrangements at around 7 p.m. on May 10, then asked their coach to submit registration at 8:13 p.m. The request was rejected as late.

“A selection via chat groups”

In a detailed public statement, Thao Nguyen questioned whether the process met professional standards.

She pointed to the reliance on chat groups for official communication, the short notice period of roughly 26 to 33 hours, and the fact that the timeline fell over a weekend. She also raised concerns about inconsistent instructions between different groups and the lack of clarity over which announcements carried official authority.

“Is selecting athletes for a world-level tournament through a chat group, with a deadline of just 26–33 hours over a weekend, really a proper process?” – IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen wrote.

The 39-year-old, who has been Vietnam’s top female player for more than a decade, used a sarcastic tone to describe what she saw as the new “requirements” for national team selection. Beyond chess ability, she suggested players now needed to be in the correct chat group and constantly monitoring messages, even during off days.

She described the situation as one of the most ironic moments in her nearly 20-year career representing the national team.

Luong Phuong Hanh, 43, is the reigning national champion and the country’s second-ranked female player. Both players emphasized that they were not opposed to giving opportunities to younger athletes but objected to being excluded under what they viewed as an abrupt and unclear process.

Financial pressure and preparation concerns

Another key issue raised by Thao Nguyen was funding.

While Olympiad organizers cover accommodation and meals, players are responsible for their own round-trip airfare to Uzbekistan. According to her, the short notice made it difficult to secure financial support, especially over a weekend.

She questioned why such a major international event was not included in a planned budget, or why sponsorship efforts were not initiated earlier to give players adequate time to prepare.

Her comments highlighted a broader concern: that elite players should be able to focus on performance rather than administrative procedures or last-minute financial arrangements.

Federation response

Nguyen Minh Thang, head of the chess department under Vietnam’s sports authority and a vice president of the national federation, confirmed that the exclusion was due to late registration.

He said the federation had created a chat group and allowed players two days to sign up. Since Thao Nguyen and Phuong Hanh did not complete the process within the allotted time, other players were selected.

However, following the backlash, he indicated that the current roster remains preliminary. The federation is reportedly trying to persuade other players to withdraw in order to reinstate the two top-ranked athletes.

“The federation is trying to convince two players to step aside so Thao Nguyen and Phuong Hanh can be included.” – Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang said.

Support from leading players

The controversy drew massive attention from across Vietnam’s chess community, including leading grandmaster Le Quang Liem.

Quang Liem shared Thao Nguyen’s statement publicly and expressed sympathy for her situation. He emphasized that professional players should be able to concentrate on their preparation and competition, rather than dealing with procedural or financial uncertainty.

He also noted that the issues raised regarding timelines, selection procedures, and preparation, deserved broader reflection, expressing hope that Vietnamese chess would move toward greater professionalism and transparency in the future.

“The most important thing for professional athletes is to focus on their performance, rather than being burdened by administrative procedures or financial pressure.” – GM Le Quang Liem wrote.

A younger women’s team

In the absence of its top two players, Vietnam’s women’s team for the 2026 Chess Olympiad includes Vo Thi Kim Phung, Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Nguyen Hong Anh, and Nguyen Binh Vy.

Among them, Mai Hung is currently ranked fourth nationally, while Binh Vy, Thuy Duong, and Hong Anh are further down the rankings. Kim Phung, though not recently active in FIDE-rated games, is expected to take the top board position.

The lineup reflects a shift toward younger or less experienced players, marking a significant change from previous Olympiads where veteran figures like Thao Nguyen played central roles.

A broader transition

The situation in the women’s team mirrors a wider transition within Vietnamese chess. The men’s team will also compete without its three leading players – Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, and Le Tuan Minh – although their absence is tied to different reasons, including personal decisions and team composition concerns.

Guest Author: T.T.