Vietnamese grandmasters (GM) on August 12 drew with their Armenian counterparts in the penultimate match of the World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.

GM Nguyen Duc Hoa was the only Vietnamese player to win a match. He defeated GM Sergei Movsesian. GMs Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Le Quang Liem drew with two players who had higher Elo ratings.

GM Nguyen Duc Hoa. Photo:  nld.com.vn

GM Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy, however, could not achieve a surprise win over GM Vladimir Akopian in the fourth match.

The Vietnamese players have five points and are ranked No 18. They will face Spain in the final round.

The women's team, meanwhile, lost 1.5-2.5 to the US players.

International master (IM) Pham Le Thao Nguyen had a perfect win over GM Sabina-Francesca Foisor.

Vietnam's champion WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung drew her game with GM Irina Krush.

However, her teammates were defeated in the last two matches.

The team, now placed No 29, will next play El Salvador.

The Vietnamese team at the 2014 Chess Olympiad is led by International Grandmaster Le Quang Liem.

The Olympiad, which takes place in Tromso from August 1 to 14, is one of the world's largest chess events.

Source: VNA