Nguyen Thi Mai Hung has claimed the women’s crown and Nguyen Duc Hoa the men’s crown at the 2013 National First Class Chess Championships that officially concluded in Ho Chi Minh City on April 23.

According to Nhan dan (People) Online, Mai Hung from northern Bac Giang province became the new champion after she convincingly registered one win and one draw against Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Hanoi, in the two legs of the finals competition.

Meanwhile, Duc Hoa from southern Kien Giang province beat another Hanoi player Tran Tuan Minh in the first leg of the finals before holding the rival to a draw in the return leg to clinch his second successive men’s national title.

Dao Thien Hai and Le Kieu Thien Kim, both from Ho Chi Minh City, were named respective men’s and women’s third-place finishers.

The nine-day annual championships gathered 39 male and 24 female chess masters from across the country, competing in a round robin qualification tournament for 24 slots to play in the knockout round.-VNA