As the Head of the Specialist Department in 2022-2023, President in 2023-2024, and Vice President/Advisor in 2024-2025, I have had the privilege of contributing to Chess Năng Khiếu, the first and only chess club at VNU-HCM High school for the Gifted.

Throughout my time in these roles, I managed our club’s Lichess page and hosted weekly practice tournaments with annual awards for the most active participants. In 09/2023, I organized a bonding event with chess-related games, puzzles, and social activities for 45 members.

My role also involved leading media initiatives, such as writing event plans, developing post ideas, and designing graphics. I initially took on much of the media work myself, but learning from this, I developed a training plan for 2024-2025 to better assign media responsibilities to other members. This ensured that club members could independently produce content aligned with the club’s spirit, while I could focus on overseeing and refining their work.

Organize tournaments

Head of the Organizing Committee

Chess and Xiangqi Tournament to Celebrate Vietnam Teachers’ Day 20/11

In 11/2023, I organized and served as the chief arbiter for a school-wide chess tournament celebrating Vietnam Teacher’s Day. It was the first time the core team and I meticulously handled budgeting, task assignments, and detailed organizational planning for each phase. We searched extensively for sources willing to lend us chess boards and clocks in bulk, learned to use tournament pairing software, calculated entry fees and prize money, and even set up a tea-break corner and a friendly chess-playing area for friendly matches. Additionally, I personally designed keychains, which we printed and sold at the event to draw more attention and enhance the tournament experience. With 40 participants and a total prize pool of 1,000,000 VND, the event helped lay the solid foundation for the club’s future development.

Head of the Organizing Committee

ChessNK Nationwide Open

One of my proudest achievements was organizing the “ChessNK Nationwide Open” in 03/2024, a national online chess team tournament with over 150 participants from 33 clubs and teams across the country. With sponsorship from Nabati Vietnam, this event included notable guests like the current Vietnamese National Champion FIDE Master Bành Gia Huy, and several International Masters. I led every aspect of this event, from calling for sponsorships and drafting tournament regulations to executing media plans and producing promotional materials. The tournament was a huge success which earned positive feedback and invitations for our future collaborations.

Head of the Organizing Committee

Chess Nang Khieu Christmas Open

The “CHESS NĂNG KHIẾU CHRISTMAS OPEN” chess and xiangqi tournament, held during Christmas 2024, was a space for players to connect, share, and build friendships in the warm, festive atmosphere of Christmas. 

With a total cash prize pool exceeding 15,000,000 VND distributed across 14 awards, the tournament was one of the most well-organized and well-funded events ever hosted by Chess Năng Khiếu. Nearly 150 passionate and talented players of all ages and skill levels took part, showing great enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the day. The tournament not only received strong attention and support from the chess community, but also helped lay the foundation for more professional and large-scale events in the future of our club.

As the head organizer, I trained Chess Năng Khiếu members to serve as tournament staff and referees, ensuring the event ran smoothly. Our priority was professionalism and attentiveness, down to the smallest details. For example, we arranged extra seating outside the playing hall for parents and prepared 130 tea-break servings with snacks, fruits, tea, and coffee for participants and their families.

This tournament was a significant milestone for me, offering valuable lessons in event planning, teamwork, and adaptability while bringing the joy of chess and the holiday spirit to our community.

Head of the Organizing Committee

Chess Nang Khieu Rookie Tournament

The CHESS NĂNG KHIẾU ROOKIE TOURNAMENT 2025 was the biggest chess and xiangqi tournament ever held by our club, with over 180 players joining from many different ages and levels. The event took place on May 18, 2025, and featured a total prize pool of more than 19,000,000 VND distributed across 30 awards, along with special gifts for all participants. It became a meaningful milestone for me — as it was the last tournament I organized before graduating and ending my time as Head Organizer of Chess Năng Khiếu.

I spent many weeks carefully planning every detail of the tournament — from scheduling matches, preparing materials, and designing the registration system, to working directly with players and sponsors. I also trained members of our club to become staff and referees, helping them stay professional and friendly throughout the event. I took care of small but important things like packing gifts, setting up tables, and making sure everything ran smoothly.

Even though the entry fee was affordable, we made sure every player had a great experience. There was a tea-break with a variety of premium pastries and canned milk tea provided by our sponsors for both players and their families. Outside the playing area, we prepared a cool waiting zone for parents. Every player received a beautiful resin gift handmade by our team, and the tournament received many kind and positive feedbacks.

More than just a tournament, it was a day full of energy, joy, and connection. As Head Organizer, I am proud that I not only managed the event but also helped keep the club active, united, and motivated. This experience taught me a lot about leadership, teamwork, and how meaningful it is to bring people together through something we all love — chess.