Young Superstars: Ngoc Truongson Nguyen
Ngoc Truongson Nguyen ('Son', born Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 23, 1990) is the top Vietnamese chess player. Son started playing chess at the age of four, and he competed in the National Junior Chess Tournament before he was recruited to the Kien Giang team to compete in the National Sports Meet one year later. He started his training regime at the National Sports and Physical Training Committee, where organisers were actively seeking out talents to reach the top of world chess. It was then that the Viet Nam Sports and Physical Training Committee decided to train Son professionally. Local chess coach Trinh Hoang Cuong and the Kien Giang Sports Department, with the support from Kien Giang’s People’s Committee, decided to send Son to train in Hungary with a monthly stipend of US$900. Following that period, the Tien Dat Electronic Company offered a three-year grant of VND45,000 daily during Son’s training. The young boy was sent to Hungary for a two-year training session, beginning July 2003, at a private chess training centre called ChessCom with coach Hoang Minh Chuong. Chuong is also the owner and father of the first ever chess champion in Viet Nam, Hoang Thanh Trang. To ensure Son receives an education during his training in Hungary, his coach invites two staff members from the Vietnamese Embassy to help him with his classes.
He was awarded the IM title in 2002 and he received the Grandmaster title at the age of 14 years 10 months. In 2004, he was voted 'Athlete of the Year' in Vietnam, the only chessplayer ever included on the list of the top 10 athletes. Career highlights: 1999: Bronze medal, Asia U-10 Chess Championship. 2000: Gold medal, Asia U-10 Chess Championship. Gold medal, International U-10 Chess Championship. 2001: Gold medalist at the Asia U-12 Chess Championship. 2005: Individual Rapid and Standard Chess Champion, South East Asia Games.
According to April 2008 FIDE rating list, he is 1st ranked among Vietnamese players with 2579 ELO rating. He is followed closely by Quang Liem Le at 2568, one year his junior. As White, Nguyen plays 1.d4 where he dabbled with 1.c4 a few years ago. As Black, he plays 2...Nc6 Sicilians (B33) against 1.e4. Nguyen plays the Queen's Indian against 1.d4. Against 1.c4, he plays the Caro-Kann defensive system (1...c6).
20 critical positions from his games can be found at http://www.wtharvey.com/nguy.html Find the best move!
