Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, who is on 4.5 points after five matches, is leading the U14 Asian Youth Chess Championship.
Vu Thi Dieu Uyen is in third place (out of 14) in the girl's U8 competition with 3.5 points, while Vu Thi Dieu Ai, on four points, is in second place (out of 28) in the girl's U10 tournament.
In the boys U12 event, Do Hoang Minh Tho is leading the field of 26 with four points, while m the girls U12s Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Tra is in fifth place also with four points.
Vietnam sent 11 chess players to the tournament, which opened in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates, last Thursday.
The championship has attracted 200 participants from 22 countries, with the largest and strongest contingent coming from India.
Last year, Indian youngsters set a record by bagging 21 medals out of a possible 24 in the Iranian capital Tehran.
Vietnam, along with Iran, the UAE and India are among the favourites to win the title this year.
There are many world youth champions, past and present, participating in the event. Ivana Furtado, Girish Kaushik, Mohnish, Pratyusha, Sahaj Grover (all from India) will be trying hard to keep their winning reputations in tact.
The tournament, which ends tomorrow, is divided into the traditional U-10, U-12 and U-14 categories, in addition to a new U8 division this year.
Meanwhile, brothers Tu Hoang Thai (6 points) and Tu Hoang Thong (5.5 points) are leading the National Team Chess Tournament in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong after seven matches.
Leading the women's event are Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Vo Hong Phuong and Pham Thi Ngoc Tu.
HCM City men's team and Can Tho women's team lead the team event.
Source: Viet Nam News