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Various sports events have taken place recently in the DPRK including the 2026 water polo league matches.

Most popular among them were the ssirum (Korean wrestling) and janggi (Korean chess) matches.

Grand Bull Prize national ssirum contest 

The 20th National Ssirum Contest for Grand Bull Prize took place at the national ssirum ground on the picturesque Rungna Islet.

The contest drew players selected from all provinces and municipalities.  

In the preliminary matches, divided into two groups, excellent and unique ssirum techniques and skills were fully demonstrated.

In the semi-finals, the player of Kangwon Province, the first placer in Group A, competed with the player of Pyongyang Municipality, the second placer in Group B, and the player of Jagang Province, who won first place in Group B, with the player of North Phyongan Province, who came second in Group A.

In the bronze medal playoff, the player of North Phyongan Province defeated his opponent from Pyongyang Municipality 2-0 to take third place. 

In the final match between the players of Kangwon and Jagang provinces the former beat his rival with a waist tackle and won first place.

National open Korean chess contest  

A national open Korean chess contest was held in Phyongsong City amid the expectation and interest of many professionals and amateurs.

The contest, which brought together professionals and amateurs selected in each province, was held in junior, amateur and open divisions.

It was tight in the matches of all three divisions.

The South Phyongan Provincial Team distinguished itself in the senior individual event of the amateur division.

Three players of the South Phyongan Provincial Team and one of the Pyongyang Municipal Team competed in the semi-finals of the senior individual event of the amateur division and the final match was a fight between the players of the South Phyongan Provincial Team.

South Phyongan Province was placed third in total standings in the contest by bagging nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.

The individual event of the open division also attracted the attention of spectators.

The final rankings of the event were decided by a knockout competition of 16 players selected from the group league matches of the successful players in the amateur-division matches played earlier and professionals. 

A player of the Nampho Municipal Team ran the final match with a player of the North Hwanghae Provincial team in a tenacious and forceful manner to win it.

As a result, Nampho Municipality produced the third individual cup holder after the national martial arts championships and national Taekwon-Do all-star tournament of the 2026 Spring National Sports Festival.

The team event in the open division was also close.

The Pyongyang Municipal Team beat the Nampho Municipal Team in the final match.

Pyongyang Municipality won 24 medals including nine gold medals and was placed second in total standings.

South Hamgyong Province earned 10 gold medals in the junior division to become the top winner of gold medals and won first place in total rankings in the contest.