Player Profile: Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son
- Veeran Rajendiran
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
Full name: Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son
Peak FIDE Rating: 2665 (Nov 2011)
Highest Ranking: 165 (Classical)
Active Since: 2002 - present
Federation: Vietnam
Player’s Description
From precocious U-10 world champ to the youngest Vietnamese GM. A four-time national champion and double Olympiad board-gold medalist, let’s dig deep into the profile of Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son.
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son was born on February 23, 1990 in Rach Gia, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. His father, Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, is a teacher and his mother, Naomi Ono, is a clothes designer. He started playing chess at the age of 3 years and within one year he was competing in national tournaments.
He won his 1st international tournament in 1999, a bronze medal at the Asian U-10 Chess Championship. In 2000, at just 10 years old, he won gold at the World Youth Chess Championship (U10)—becoming the second Vietnamese player to do so.
His early training was guided by Trinh Hoang Cuong, a local coach. With his training he was awarded the International Master (IM) in September 2002, at age 12.
He was sent to Hungary in 2003 for a two-year intensive training program at Chess.com, under coach Hoang Minh Chuon. Under his guidance, Nguyen was awarded Grandmaster (GM) title in December 2004, at just 14 years and 10 months, making him one of the youngest grandmasters in history.
He’s known for his calm, methodical approach—rarely rushing, always calculating - turning defensive positions into counterattacks.
Current Status (2025)
Total game: 1064
Wins: 416
Draws: 502
Losses: 146
Current Rankings (2025)
World Championships
He has not won a senior World Championship title, but won a gold medal in 2000 World Youth Chess Championship, U-10
National Championship
Vietnamese National Chess Championship - 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2017
Olympiad & Team Medals
Board 2 Gold Medal – 2014 Chess Olympiad (Tromso)
Board 2 Gold Medal – 2018 Chess Olympiad (Batumi)
Team Bronze – 2023 Olympic Esports Series
Notable Tournament Wins
2000 World Youth Chess Championship, U-10 – Gold medalist
2001 Asian Youth Chess Championship, U-12 – Gold medalist
2005 Southeast Asian Games – Individual Rapid & Standard Chess Champion
2006 Asian Junior Chess Championship (U-20) – Champion
2014 HD Bank Cup (4th edition) – Winner
Most Memorable Games
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son Vs. Mihai Ionescu – Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
Truong Son played a sharp line, quickly seizing the initiative with a central pawn break that opened the board. His attack involving a knight sacrifice forced Ionescu’s king into the open.
He coordinated his rooks and queen to deliver a textbook mating net.
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son Vs. Andrew Tang – Queen’s Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation
Truong Son neutralized Tang’s dynamic style by simplifying early and targeting the isolated pawn. A quiet bishop retreat set up a tactical fork that won a key pawn. The game ended with a precise rook lift and mating net—classic coordination of heavy pieces.
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son Vs. Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara – Queen’s Indian Defense
Truong Son played a solid positional game, gradually outmaneuvering in the middlegame.
He transitioned into a favorable minor-piece endgame, using triangulation and zugzwang to squeeze out the win. He secured a victory by a well-timed pawn breakthrough on the queenside.
Comments