12th Houston “AFNB Cup” Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Tournament Opens This Fall
The 12th “American First National Bank Cup” Xiangqi Tournament, hosted by the Houston Xiangqi Association, co-organized by the Chinese Civic Center, and title-sponsored by American First National Bank, will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Bayland Community Center in Houston. The awards ceremony will be held later that same day.
According to James Xu, Vice President of the Houston Xiangqi Association, the tournament has been held eleven times since its inaugural event in 2009 and has become a traditional fixture in the Houston and North American Xiangqi communities. This year, many accomplished players from Houston and surrounding cities, including New Orleans, will gather in Space City to compete. Among them will be Xiangqi International Grandmasters Yushan Hu and Yogi Do. Jennifer Zhou, Sr Vice President of American First National Bank, said that, guided by its commitment to serving the community, the bank is once again actively supporting the tournament after serving as title sponsor for eleven consecutive editions, contributing to the strength and vitality of the Asian American community.
A special feature of this year’s tournament is the inclusion of both an Adult Division and a Youth Division for players born after January 1, 2008. The event is designed to promote Xiangqi, preserve its cultural heritage, and enrich community life. Competition will follow World Xiangqi Rules, with each player allotted 20 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. Top finishers in each division will receive trophies, certificates, and cash prizes. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top eight finishers in the Adult Division, with a first prize of $500. The top three finishers in the Youth Division will receive prizes, with a first prize of $80.
The organizers warmly invite Xiangqi players from Houston and the southern United States to participate, and welcome spectators to attend and cheer on the competitors. Community organizations are encouraged to promote the event and organize interested players to take part. To register, please send the participant’s name, telephone number, and email address to the contact listed below. The registration fee is payable on the day of the tournament.
Tournament Details
Tournament date and time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Awards ceremony: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Bayland Community Center – Art Room, 6400 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074
Registration fee: $25, including lunch and drinking water
Registration contact: houstonxiangqi@gmail.com
2026 12th AFNB Cup Xiangqi Tournament poster
Awards ceremony for the 11th AFNB Cup, 2025
Competition venue for the 11th AFNB Cup, 2025
Competition venue for the 10th AFNB Cup, 2024
Awards ceremony for the 10th AFNB Cup, 2024
The 9th AFNB Cup, 2022
Youth Division winners at the 9th AFNB Cup, 2022
At the conclusion of the 8th AFNB Cup in 2018, American First National Bank representative Mingjie Zhou, Houston Xiangqi Association Honorary President Shouxian Zheng, President Yushan Hu, Vice President Jianxun Xu, the Cultural Consul, and other guests posed for a commemorative photo with the winners
Competition venue for the AFNB Cup, 2018
The 7th AFNB Cup, 2016
The 6th AFNB Cup, 2015
The 5th AFNB Cup, 2014
The 3rd AFNB Cup, 2011
The 2nd AFNB Cup, 2010
The 18th World Xiangqi Championship was successfully held in Houston in 2023
Opening ceremony of the 18th World Xiangqi Championship in Houston, 2023
Opening ceremony of the 18th World Xiangqi Championship in Houston, 2023
Group photo from the awards ceremony at the 10th North American Xiangqi Championship (Houston 2026)
About the Houston Xiangqi Association
The Houston Xiangqi Association is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998. It is a founding member of both the United States Xiangqi Federation and the North American Xiangqi Federation. The current President is Yushan Hu; the Vice Presidents are James Xu and Richard Tse; and the Honorary President is Richard Cheng. The association has approximately 40 members, including two International Grandmasters and three Federation Masters.
Dedicated to advancing Xiangqi in Houston and throughout North America, the association has long worked to promote the art of Xiangqi, celebrate Chinese cultural traditions, organize tournaments in the Houston area, and offer youth training programs. These activities have attracted the participation of many Chinese American young people across North America. The association has also received support from Houston-area community groups and businesses, including the Chinese Civic Center, the Educated Youth Fellowship Association, and American First National Bank.
Beyond local events, the Houston Xiangqi Association maintains close ties and reciprocal exchanges with associations across North America, including those in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It has hosted numerous North American invitational tournaments, helping establish Houston as a major center for Xiangqi competition in North America. Since 2013, the association has strengthened its exchanges with the Chinese Xiangqi Association. Visits to Houston by the Chinese National Xiangqi Team every two years have become a highlight of Xiangqi activities in Houston and across North America.
Houston players have represented the United States in international competitions on numerous occasions and have repeatedly achieved top-six finishes. Yushan Hu placed fifth individually at the 9th Han Xin Cup International Masters Tournament in 2017, won the pairs competition at the 10th Han Xin Cup International Masters Tournament in 2018, and placed sixth at the 2019 Belt and Road Jiading Cup Shanghai International Friendship Cities Xiangqi Tournament. At the 2022 World Xiangqi Championship, Houston player Nhat Quang Le represented the United States Xiangqi Association and delivered an outstanding performance, finishing sixth individually, ahead of national champion Wang Kuo. The Houston Xiangqi Association successfully hosted the 18th World Xiangqi Championship in 2023 and the 10th North American Xiangqi Championship in 2026, bringing Houston into the international Xiangqi spotlight.
About American First National Bank
American First National Bank was founded in May 1998. It currently has total assets exceeding 2.1 billion and a professional team of more than 237 employees. The bank operates 20 locations, including its Houston headquarters, with branches in Houston and Dallas, Texas; Las Vegas, Pahrump, Amargosa, and Henderson, Nevada; and Alhambra, City of Industry, and Arcadia, California. It provides financial products and related services to Chinese American communities in these markets.
As a community bank, American First National Bank is committed to providing specialized financial services to small and medium-sized business owners during the early stages of entrepreneurship, working alongside them toward shared success. While serving its customers, the bank also remains committed to giving back and fulfilling its responsibilities as a community institution. Over the years, it has provided strong financial and volunteer support for community activities and has earned the trust and appreciation of the communities it serves.