HCM CITY (VNS)—Viet Nam's chess ace Le Quang Liem has progressed to the second round at the ongoing Chess World Cup in Tromso, Norway.

The HCM City-born player who ranks 42nd among the 100 top players in the world overcame Fillipino Oliver Barbosa in a return leg match after 32 moves yesterday morning.

The going may get more difficult for the Vietnamese player in his next round match, as he faces Francisco Pons Vallejo of Spain, who is considered as a tough opponent.

Meanwhile, another Vietnamese player at the competition, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son scraped through after managing a draw against Vladimir Akopian of Armenia, who lost to Son in the first match.

The former world U10 champion will next battle against Darimi Pouria of Iran.-VNS