Chess master Zhansaya Abdumalik

HCM CITY (VNS) — The second event of the "Chess for Girls Asia" series will take place in HCM City on July 2-7.

There will be a four-day training session with four-time Women's World Champion Susan Polgar and her team and a two-day competition on July 6-7.

Ten participants from seven nations including India, Indonesia, Iran and Viet Nam will fight it out for a prize pool worth more than 6,000 euros (US$8,200).

The highest-ranked participant and youngest in the competition will be 14-year-old Zhansaya Abdumalik from Kazakhstan.

Hoang Thi Nhu Y, Le Hoang Tran Chau and Nguyen Thi Mai Hung will represent the host team.

Top player Grandmaster Le Quang Liem will be among the guests attending the event. Liem is currently completing his scholarship at Webster University.

Polgar is the chairwoman of the Susan Polgar Foundation, a world-known chess institute located in the US. She is also head coach of the Webster University chess club which is currently ranked first in the United States.

Spectators are allowed to attend and observe the competitions on the final two days of the competition.

The first event took place last week at Webster University's Geneva campus, while the final event will take place on July 11-15 at University's home campus in St. Louis, Missouri.

The world-class event aims to promote and further women's chess and to give learning and competing opportunities to some of Asia's finest young female chess talents.

The Commission for Women's Chess of the International Chess Federation, in partnership with the Viet Nam Chess Federation, Webster University and the Susan Polgar Foundation, are co-sponsoring the project. — VNS