Le Quang Liem.— Photo Vnexpress

HA NOI (VNS)  — World chess masters Le Quang Liem and Hoang Thi Thanh Trang have failed to lift trophies at the National Sports Games.

Liem of HCM City, ranked 65th in the world, finished second in the men's rapid chess event which wrapped up in Quang Ninh Province yesterday. He earned six points after nine rounds, second only to Cao Sang of Lam Dong who had seven points.

Le Tuan Minh of Ha Noi, the only one to beat Liem in this tournament, won the bronze medal.

On the women's side, Trang, ranked 25th in the world and a former Asian and European champion, was expected to triumph easily but instead, struggled from the start and fell to sixth place after failing to enter the top three.

Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Can Tho won the gold medal while Hoang Thi Nhu Y and Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, both from Bac Giang, won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The masters will next compete in blitz chess starting today. Ha Noi maintained its top ranking after three days of competition with 48 gold medals while HCM City placed second and Military placed third. — VNS