World chess championships qualifying round kicks off

Ho Chi Minh City, March 8 (IANS)

Competition of the Zone 3.3 qualifying round of the World Chess Championships 2015 kicked off here, with participation of 44 male and 20 female players coming from seven countries and regions. Players will compete in the nine-day tournament upon Swiss system, and two male and one female players will enter the final of the world championships, reports Xinhua.

Winner in the men category will bring home $2,000 while the best women player will receive $1,000.

On the opening day, Vietnam's top male player Le Quang Liem defeated Liu Xiangyi of China, while Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son tied with Bersamina Paulo of the Philippines.

In the women category, Vietnamese players Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Hoang Thi Bao Tram and Pham Le Thao Nguyen gained victory in their opening matches. The tournament will finish on March 15.