On February 28th, the open division semifinals at the 32nd Wuyang Cup Xiangqi Tournament concluded at Guangzhou Cultural Park. Lai Ly Huynh, the Vietnamese wildcard player and newly crowned world champion, beat Zhao Panwei with one win and one draw to reach the final in his maiden appearance. Cheng Yudong, a local Guangzhou player currently representing Hangzhou Mind Sports Team, battled through to the final after a grueling blitz playoff against rapid chess world champion Yin Sheng.

In the first game, Lai Ly Huynh took the lead with precise attacking play. In the second, Zhao Panwei tried to change tactics, but Lai defended steadily and controlled the game, advancing with one win and one draw. In the other semifinal, Cheng Yudong and Yin Sheng drew twice in standard xiangqi and remained tied in playoffs. Cheng finally won with the black pieces in the third blitz game, showing strong mental toughness.

Lai Ly Huynh plays steadily and delicately with solid foundations in the middlegame and endgame, while Cheng features sharp, powerful attacking xiangqi. The two will compete for the top honor of the "Wuyang Cup" in Guangzhou on March 1st.

Cheng Yudong is a Guangzhou-born player who won the "Little Wuyang Cup" at age 10, forging a deep connection with the tournament. Lai Ly Huynh, as Vietnam's leading chess player and newly crowned individual world champion, is making his "Wuyang Cup" debut. After reaching the final, Lai said he was delighted to showcase his skills on the prestigious "Wuyang Cup" stage and exchange ideas with Chinese masters. "I feel very lucky to have advanced today. This joy is hard to put into words."

第32届“五羊杯”决赛：越南世界冠军将对决广州本土棋手

2月28日，第32届“五羊杯”全国象棋冠军赛公开组半决赛在广州文化公园战罢。越南外卡选手、新科世界冠军赖理兄以一胜一和击败赵攀伟，首次参赛便闯入决赛；广州本土棋手（现效力杭州市智力运动队）程宇东则在与快棋世界冠军尹昇的较量中鏖战至超快棋加赛，最终胜出，会师决赛。

首局较量中，赖理兄凭借精准攻势先下一城；次局赵攀伟虽主动求变，但赖理兄稳健应对，再度掌控局面，以一胜一和晋级。另一场半决赛，程宇东与尹昇两度慢棋战和，加赛仍难分高下，最终程宇东在第三盘超快棋中后手取胜，展现出强劲心理素质。

赖理兄棋风稳健细腻，中残局功底深厚；程宇东攻杀犀利、冲击力十足。3月1日，两人将在广州展开终极对决，争夺本届“五羊杯”最高荣誉。

程宇东是土生土长的广州棋手，10岁时便拿下小“五羊杯”冠军，与“五羊杯”结下深厚缘分。赖理兄作为越南象棋领军人物、新科世锦赛个人冠军，首次登上“五羊杯”赛场。晋级决赛后，赖理兄表示，很高兴能在“五羊杯”这样的顶级舞台展现棋艺，与中国高手交流切磋，“今天能晋级，我觉得自己很幸运，这份喜悦很难用言语表达”。

文 | 记者 赵亮晨 陈旭泽
图 | 记者 陈秋明
翻译丨郑书悦
审校丨曾敏