David Antón Takes Sole Lead at 'Legends & Prodigies' – New Course by IM Valeri Lilov on Black's Defenses Against 1.d4

HANOI, September 15, 2026 – Within the framework of the international chess tournament 'Legends & Prodigies' just opened at the Hanoi Opera House, Spanish grandmaster David Antón has surged to the top of the standings after two consecutive wins against younger opponents. This achievement has drawn the attention of the Vietnamese chess community, which is gradually becoming acquainted with modern opening systems. Parallel to the tournament's developments, another notable event is the launch of a new video course by International Master (IM) Valeri Lilov of Bulgaria. The course consists of six instructional videos covering Black's strategic plans against White's low-theory 1.d4 systems, such as the Colle, Trompowsky, Torre, and London openings. Lilov asserts that although these systems are often considered 'unambitious,' they are extremely dangerous if Black is not well-prepared. In fact, amateur and professional players in Vietnam often struggle when opponents decline 2.c4 – the main path of the Queen's Gambit. Lilov's course promises to equip learners with a clear roadmap, from the Slav, Semi-Slav, Queen's Gambit Accepted to the Catalan and various sidelines. However, experts question the depth of the course, as only six videos cover eleven different systems. Nevertheless, the combination of tournament and training product shows a strong shift in the chess industry: players not only compete but also earn a living through teaching. David Antón, though still with games ahead, has become a representative figure for this development. This article was published in The Sports Magazine of Vietnam, September 2026 issue.