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2026 Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship: schedule, format and players

Everything about the 2026 Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship in Manila: dates, round schedule, the 6+1 and 5+1 formats, time control, players to watch and world champion Lai Ly Huynh.

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The 21st Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship runs from October 2 to 8, 2026, at the Manila Hotel in the Philippines, organized by the Asian Xiangqi Federation (AXF). Thirty-five players compete: 24 men play six Swiss scoring rounds plus a final round, and 11 women play 5+1. The top two in each division contest the title. Vietnam fields reigning world champion Lai Ly Huynh and Dam Thi Thuy Dung.

Quick facts

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Quick facts
ItemDetails
Event21st Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship
DatesOctober 2–8, 2026; competitive play from October 3
VenueSampaguita Hall A, Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines
Organizer / hostAsian Xiangqi Federation (AXF) / Philippine Xiangqi Federation
Players35: 24 men, 11 women
VietnamLai Ly Huynh (men), Dam Thi Thuy Dung (women)
FormatMen 6+1, women 5+1, Swiss system; top two play for the title
Standard time control45 minutes per player + 20 seconds per move

What is the Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship?

The Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship is one of Xiangqi's longest-running international individual competitions. Its predecessor, the Asian Cities Xiangqi Masters Invitation, was first held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1981. A historical overview by Xiangqi.com, drawing on information from the AXF secretary-general, says the event became the Asian Xiangqi Masters Invitation in 1997 and took its current name in 2005.

Do not confuse it with the separate Asian Xiangqi Championship. Both belong to the AXF competition calendar, but they are different tournaments; the individual championship has only men's and women's individual events.

The 20th edition was held in Singapore from December 2 to 7, 2024, according to the Asian Mind Sports Association. Manila has hosted the championship before, in 1989, 1999 and 2005.

Where and when is the 2026 championship?

The regulations name Sampaguita Hall A, Manila Hotel, 1 Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines, as the venue. The AXF website also lists the Manila Hotel for the 21st edition.

The overall event period is October 2–8, 2026:

  • October 2: registration, with the opening ceremony in the evening.
  • October 3: competitive play begins.
  • October 3–6: the published Men's Division round schedule.
  • October 8: departure day.

The event period and the playing schedule are not the same thing: the championship runs through October 8, while the published men's timetable lists games from October 3 to 6.

Men's Division schedule

From the schedule in the regulations published by AXF:

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Men's Division schedule
DateManila time (UTC+8)UTCRound
Oct 3, 20262:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.Round 1
Oct 4, 20269:00 a.m.1:00 a.m.Round 2
Oct 4, 20262:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.Round 3
Oct 5, 20269:00 a.m.1:00 a.m.Round 4
Oct 5, 20262:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.Round 5
Oct 6, 20269:00 a.m.1:00 a.m.Round 6
Oct 6, 20262:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.Round 7 — final round

Times are local to Manila (UTC+8). GDChess provides reference data for pairings and results; changes should be checked against organizer announcements.

How does the format work?

Men's Division: 6+1

The Men's Division has 24 players in a Swiss-system event. Under the supplementary regulations:

  1. Players complete six scoring rounds.
  2. After Round 6, the top two players qualify for the championship game.
  3. Everyone else plays the final round to settle the remaining places.

The accurate description is therefore six preliminary scoring rounds plus a final round, not seven identical league rounds followed by a final. Rounds 5 and 6 matter most: a player needs points and a place in the top two.

Women's Division: 5+1

The Women's Division has 11 players and plays five scoring rounds. The top two after Round 5 play for the title; the others play a final classification round. With fewer rounds, every draw or loss weighs more heavily on the race for the top two.

Scoring and tiebreaks

Each game scores 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. When players are level, the supplementary regulations apply, in order:

  1. Opponents' score.
  2. Direct encounter.
  3. Number of wins.
  4. Wins with Black.
  5. Games played with Black.
  6. Score of the strongest opponents.
  7. Technical violations.
  8. If still tied, the ranking after the previous round.

Only two players reach the title game, so tiebreaks can decide qualification when several players share a score. The general Swiss logic is explained in WXF tie-breaks: round-robin and Swiss ranking.

What is the time control?

Standard games use 45 minutes per player with a 20-second increment after every move. If the championship game is drawn:

  • the players play 10 minutes + 5 seconds per move rapid;
  • if still level, they continue with 5 minutes + 3 seconds per move faster games;
  • colors alternate under the regulations until a winner is decided.

Standard games use a 50-move natural movecount limit (checks are counted separately); rapid and faster games use 40 moves. See how the natural movecount works.

Players to watch

Lai Ly Huynh — Vietnam

Lai Ly Huynh (赖理兄 in Chinese sources) is Vietnam's only player in the Men's Division and arrives as the reigning men's World Xiangqi Champion. The World Xiangqi Federation's official results place Lai Ly Huynh first in the men's individual event at the 19th World Xiangqi Championship 2025 in Shanghai.

Wang Yubo — China

Wang Yubo (王禹博) is one of China's two men's representatives. Wang Yubo, Cheng Yudong and Tang Dan earned their places through China's national selection for the 2026 Asian championship.

Cheng Yudong — China

Cheng Yudong (程宇东) is China's other men's representative. Cheng Yudong drew with Lai Ly Huynh in Round 3 in Manila, a result reported by both Chinese Xiangqi media and the Vietnamese press.

Tang Dan — China

Tang Dan (唐丹) is the headline name in the Women's Division. World Xiangqi Federation records list Tang Dan as the 2025 women's World Xiangqi Champion. In Manila, Tang Dan opened with three straight wins, including a Round 3 win over Dam Thi Thuy Dung, and led the women's field on 6 points after three rounds.

Dam Thi Thuy Dung — Vietnam

Dam Thi Thuy Dung is Vietnam's representative in the Women's Division. She won her first two games before losing to Tang Dan in Round 3, leaving her on 4 points from three games, part of a six-player group on 4 points behind Tang Dan.

How is Lai Ly Huynh doing?

Lai Ly Huynh started with two wins:

  • Round 1: beat Chong Heung Ming (庄宏明) of the Philippines.
  • Round 2: beat Narendra of Indonesia.

He then met both Chinese men's representatives:

  • Round 3: drew with Cheng Yudong.
  • Round 4: drew with Wang Yubo.

After four games Lai Ly Huynh had 2 wins, 2 draws and no losses — 6 points. Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre reported that Lai Ly Huynh, Wang Yubo and Cheng Yudong were all on 6 points after Round 4. Staying unbeaten after facing both Chinese players is a strong position, but only the top two after Round 6 reach the title game, so Rounds 5 and 6 and the tiebreaks remain decisive.

Why is the 2026 championship worth following?

The reigning world champion is in the field. Lai Ly Huynh's 2025 world title makes every meeting with China's top players a measure of his form at continental level.

The top-two cut creates pressure in every round. The title does not simply go to the leader of a full Swiss event: men must finish in the top two after Round 6, women after Round 5. One draw or an unfavourable tiebreak late in the scoring phase can decide who plays for the title.

Xiangqi communities from across Asia meet. According to the entry list and opening reports, delegations include China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and other AXF members. Sources disagree on the delegation count; the 20 invited member associations in the regulations should not be treated as 20 attending delegations.

FAQ

Where is the 2026 Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship held?

At Sampaguita Hall A, Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines.

When does the championship take place?

The official event period is October 2–8, 2026. Competitive play began on October 3, and the published men's schedule lists rounds from October 3 to 6.

How many players are competing?

Thirty-five: 24 men and 11 women.

Who represents Vietnam?

Lai Ly Huynh in the Men's Division and Dam Thi Thuy Dung in the Women's Division.

Is Lai Ly Huynh the reigning world champion?

Yes. Lai Ly Huynh won the men's individual title at the 2025 World Xiangqi Championship in Shanghai.

What is the Men's Division format?

Six Swiss-system scoring rounds followed by a final round. The top two after Round 6 play for the title; the others play for the remaining places.

What is the Women's Division format?

Five scoring rounds followed by a final round. The top two after Round 5 play for the title; the others play a classification round.

What is the standard time control?

Each player has 45 minutes plus a 20-second increment per move.

What happens if the championship game is drawn?

The players move to 10+5 rapid, then to 5+3 faster games if needed, alternating colors under the regulations until a winner is decided.

Sources

Schedule, format, time control and tiebreaks are checked against the organizer's documents; world titles against the World Xiangqi Federation; Vietnamese media add coverage of the Vietnamese players.

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