Singapore, November 18, 2025: Asia’s brightest minds were crowned at the inaugural Asian Mind Sports Conference & Festival which ended in Singapore on Saturday, November 15.
Asia’s first multi-discipline mind sports festival at the Suntec Convention Centre drew over 350 competitors from 17 countries. Champions across the five featured disciplines – chess, bridge, speedcubing, Weiqi (Go), and Xiangqi (Chinese chess) were crowned.
In chess, Vietnam’s Le Tuan Ming, who picked up the game at the age of six, delivered the headline performance with victories in both the Blitz and Rapid events.
“To be honest, I came here without any expectations, as I knew I would be up against strong opponents. It’s a nice feeling to win twice,” said the 29-year-old Le, whose win will be a timely confidence boost before his SEA Games title defence in the individual blitz event.
In bridge, Team Singapore represented by Timothy Wu, Fong Kien Hoong, Luo Cheng, Kelvin Ng, Teo Xueheng, and Zhang Yukun, captured the men’s team title. China won the women’s team title, and also swept the board winning both the men’s and women’s pair’s events.
China also made a clean sweep in the Xiangqi competition taking all podium places in the rapid and blitz competitions, as well as in Weiqi where 14-year-old Li Yagao, who plays the sport professionally, was crowned champion.
In speedcubing, athletes from the Philippines, China and Singapore claimed top honours.
The festival was co-organised by the Singapore Chess Federation, Singapore Weiqi Association, Singapore Xiangqi General Association, and the Singapore Contract Bridge Association.
“This first edition marks a significant milestone for mind sports in Asia. We believe this festival will spark long-term development and lay the foundation for a thriving mind sports ecosystem,” said Gordon Tang, President of the Asian Mind Sports Association, and OCA Vice President and Chairman of Esports, Mind Sports and Mixed Martial Arts Committee.
