The sole chess commentator in Khanh Hoa

Human chess competition is one of the unique traditional cultural and sports activities on Tet occasion in Khanh Hoa Province. Apart from the scale of the competition, chess skills of players, performances of human chess pieces, etc., the commentary of chess commentators is an interesting part of the competition. Tran Cam Long has been the sole chess commentator in Khanh Hoa Province for a long time. 

Commentating on human chess competitions for 17 years

Dr. Tran Cam Long commentating in the Tet 2024 human chess competition

The Tet 2024 human chess competition of Khanh Hoa Province kicked off at 2-4 Square, Nha Trang City on February 12 (lunar January 3). Dr. Tran Cam Long wearing Ao Dai commentating on chess matches in Tet human chess competitions is a familiar image to many local people and tourists in Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa. In 2007, Tran Cam Long and Doan Duc Phuoc of Bich Quang martial art dojo (Khanh Hoa Children’s House) were appointed to organize the first edition of the Tet human chess competition. Tran Cam Long has taken this job for 17 years. Besides Tet human chess competitions, Tran Cam Long is the chess commentator in Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival human chess competitions.

Human chess competitions are a long-standing traditional cultural and art activity in many localities in Vietnam, such as Da Nang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and northern provinces. However, the human chess competitions in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa have their own unique characteristics thanks to the efforts of the organizers namely Dr. and chess master Tran Cam Long and martial arts instructor Doan Duc Phuoc, etc. In human chess competitions in the northern region, chessboards have large chess pieces attached to sticks that are inserted into holes. During the chess games, the players move the sticks to the corresponding holes on the chessboard. In Da Nang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, etc., human chess competitions feature martial art performances performed by human chess pieces and chess commentary but mostly focus on chess skills of the players. Meanwhile, human chess competitions in Nha Trang City feature all 4 interesting elements of chess playing namely competition, commentary; discussion; and appearance.

Dr. and chess master Tran Cam Long with the certificate for human chess club (Khanh Hoa Cultural Center) awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

In order to ensure those elements, commentator Tran Cam Long and Doan Duc Phuoc, who is in charge of chess pieces and their martial arts performances, have to continually learn and be creative in deploying chess pieces attractively and beautifully. The Tet human chess competition of Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa has been awarded a certificate by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for its appeal and uniqueness.

Passion for xiangqi 

Tran Cam Long grew fond of xiangqi (Chinese chess) when he was a child. Besides studying hard to become a doctor, he spent time learning xiangqi and has remained an interest in this sport.

Tran Cam Long won Khanh Hoa’s xiangqi tournament 2020

Tran Cam Long has won 9 provincial xiangqi tournaments out of 20 years of participation (from 2001 to 2020). Additionally, he and Khanh Hoa’s xiangqi team secured 1 bronze medal in a national tournament and was recognized as master in 2020. Tran Cam Long has also been the instructor of Federation Master Ton That Nhat Tan.

An attractive martial art performance in Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Tet 2024 human chess competition

Dr. and chess master Tran Cam Long has been the head of the human chess club of Khanh Hoa Provincial Cultural Center since the club was established. Tran Cam Long always tries to arrange his busy schedule for work and family to take the role of commentator in every human chess festival. 

With his contributions to the Tet human chess festivals and other provincial festivals, Tran Cam Long has been awarded many certificates of merit and prizes by the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Culture and Sports. In 2018, the human chess club of Khanh Hoa Provincial Cultural Center was given a certificate of merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for its excellent achievements in building and organizing local cultural and sports activities. This is an acknowledgment of the efforts made by the people contributing to Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa human chess competitions, including Dr. Tran Cam Long.

An Nhien
Translated by H.N