National chess champion Nguyen Thi Mai Hung.—File Photo

HA NOI (VNS)– National chess champion Nguyen Thi Mai Hung will train in Hungary for one year to seek for women's International Grandmaster (IGM) title.

Hung will face off against chess players around the world in the hopes of joining Viet Nam's current list of female IGMs, including Thao Nguyen, Thanh Tu, Bao Tram and Thanh An.

So far this year, the 19 year old has picked up bronze medal at the U20 Asian Championships and gold at the National Competition.

It was three years ago that the Bac Giang Province-born girl wowed judges when she won the U16 Asian Master event and went on to become a silver medallist at the U16 world tournament.

Hung continued her winning streak the following year, snatching first place at the National Chess tournament and Southeast Asian Games in 2011.

She attributes her success to one-year training courses she completed in Singapore and Hungary. Hung's training is currently sponsored by the Viet Nam Chess Federation and Bac Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. – VNS