Vietnamese grandmaster leads US chess team to three national titles

The team won three titles at 2021 U.S. Online Collegiate Rapid and Blitz Championships, including the Individual Rapid, Individual Blitz and Team Rapid.

Webster has been ranked number one in Division I College Chess since it started in August 2012.

Liem used to be a team captain as a student at the university. He helped the team win four inter-school championships before graduating in 2017 with bachelor's degrees in finance and management.

In April this year, he was appointed the new coach of the team, taking over the position from Susan Polgar, former women's World Champion, who decided to retire after nine years on the job due to health.

A chess prodigy in Vietnam, Liem earned the title of grandmaster at 15 and is currently the number one chess player in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. He is best known for winning the World Blitz Chess Championship in 2013, having bested several elite players.

Liem is 31st in world rankings with an Elo rating of 2709.