Eighty athletes from 15 Asian countries and regions will attend the 14th Asian Xiangqi (Chinese chess) Championships slated for Nov. 2-7 in Vietnam's southern Vung Tau city.

Among the 15 countries and regions, including China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and hosts Vietnam, China is expected to top the championships, which is held biennial in Asian and Oceanic countries and regions in rotation, according to the Vietnam Chess Federation on Thursday.

At the 13th Asian Xiangqi Championships held in Beijing in 2004, China bagged all the three champion trophies. Vietnam was the strongest contingent among the rest, being runner-up in the men's team event, and ranking third in the women's single division and the junior's single division, the federation said.

Singapore will host the 15th Asian Xiangqi Championships in 2008.

Source: Xinhua