A Hollins University sophomore has been ranked as the top female chess player in the commonwealth for the second year in a row.
Tien Nguyen ’22 earned the honor at the 2019-20 Virginia Scholastic and College Chess Championships, held March 6 and 7 in Alexandria, Virginia. She and Chanmolis Mout ’23 combined to win second place in the College Section’s Blitz team competition, while Nguyen took third in the Blitz individual category. Nguyen also tied for third place in the tournament’s Standard competition.
“Tien is very smart and talented, and she deserves all of this,” said Mout. “This was my first tournament and she supported me throughout the event. She is a really good coach.”
Nguyen and Mout both thanked Maryke Barber, information literacy and arts liaison librarian at Hollins’ Wyndham Robertson Library, for sponsoring their trip to the tournament. “Without all her love and support,” said Nguyen, “we wouldn’t have been able to bring back four trophies to Hollins!”
The Virginia Scholastic and College Chess Championships this year welcomed more than 600 players who competed in accordance with their rating and their age group. Along with Nguyen and Mout representing Hollins, the College Section featured players from the University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and Longwood University.
Photo caption: Tien Nguyen ’22 (left) and Chanmolis Mout ’23 earned accolades at the Virginia Scholastic and College Chess Championships.
