The Sen Trang Huong Giang Chess Tournament was a great success with sponsorship from VILACO.

On 24/09/2017 (the 5th day of the 8th lunar month, year of the Rooster), the 2017 SEN TRANG HUONG GIANG Chess Tournament was held at the Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Centre – 15A Le Loi – Hue. Organised by the Thua Thien Hue Buddhist Youth Family Guidance Committee for the junior division, it aimed to give junior members from Buddhist Youth Families across the province a place to meet, build friendships and sharpen their minds.

A formal ceremony attended by many senior figures.

Presiding over and attending the opening ceremony were Ven. Thich Tam Phuong – member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Thua Thien Hue province and head of the Executive Council in A Luoi district; Ven. Thich Huyen Tam – deputy head of the Executive Council and head of the Dharma propagation board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Huong Thuy town; Ven. Thich Quang Chanh – chief secretary and head of the communications board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Huong Thuy town.

On behalf of the Buddhist Youth Family were senior leader Nguyen Chuong Phung Hu Huy – standing deputy head of the Thua Thien Hue Buddhist Youth Family Guidance Committee; senior leader Tam Chanh Le Quang Cu - deputy head and chief secretary  of the Thua Thien Hue Buddhist Youth Family Guidance Committee, together with the deputy leaders of the Thua Thien Hue Buddhist Youth Family Guidance Committee.

Also attending the opening ceremony were the tournament's sponsors: Mr Nguyen Van Thinh – chairman of the Dry Creek Charity fund in Vietnam, vice-president of the Thua Thien Hue Chess Federation and a founding member of the Sen Trang Huong Giang fund; Mr Ha Xuan Binh – general secretary of the Thua Thien Hue Chess Federation and deputy principal of the Thua Thien Hue College of Physical Education and Sport; Mr Ha Quoc Hai – market development director for central Vietnam, Vilaco JSC.

Also present were benefactors, the leadership boards of the Buddhist Youth Families with members taking part, and 254 competitors from the junior divisions of 30 Buddhist Youth Family units across the province.

The 2017 Sen Trang Huong Giang Chess Tournament, organised by the Thua Thien Hue Buddhist Youth Family Guidance Committee, drew 254 competitors from 30 Buddhist Youth Family units across 5 districts, towns and cities: Huong Tra town, Huong Thuy town, Phu Vang district, Quang Dien district and Hue city. The players competed over 5 rounds of the Swiss system in two age groups, U10 and U14, with points counting towards 12 individual titles for boys and girls and a team title. Here are some pictures from the tournament:

Games full of "deep thought" from the U10 children

The girls played every bit as well as the boys

Once the tournament finished, the prize-giving was held, with many prizes and certificates of merit awarded directly to the units to recognise and encourage them. In the time ahead, the units should do more to build on gatherings like this one, to deepen friendships and sharpen young minds.

Young people really do need worthwhile activities like this chess tournament.

The children were no doubt delighted with the gifts they received

Vilaco hopes to do far more to be there alongside the bright smiles of these children – the flowers of our country – through many more gatherings and tournaments like this chess event.

Vilaco sincerely thanks the many organisations that worked with us. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing dreamy Hue again!