Vietnamese cueists face tough draw at 2026 Yanggu World Cup
VOV.VN - Fifteen Vietnamese cueists will compete in the 2026 Yanggu 3-Cushion World Cup, slated for November 2-8 at Yanggu Sports Town in Gangwon, the Republic of Korea (RoK).
While Bao Phuong Vinh, Chiem Hong Thai, and Tran Thanh Luc face top global names in the main draw, four-time champion Tran Quyet Chien must battle through the final qualification round to chase the title.
According to the World Carom Billiards Federation (UMB), Bao Phuong Vinh (world No. 11), Chiem Hong Thai (No. 12), and Tran Thanh Luc (No. 13) secured direct entry into the 32-player main draw as top 14 seeds. However, all three face formidable opponents in the group stage.
In Group F, Chiem Hong Thai meets Dutch legend Dick Jaspers (world No. 7), a multi-time world champion renowned for his high scoring efficiency. Tran Thanh Luc joins Group E alongside German veteran Martin Horn (No. 6), while Bao Phuong Vinh faces Egypt's Sameh Sidhom (No. 8) in Group G. Each group will receive two additional players from the final qualification round.
Meanwhile, Tran Quyet Chien faces a tougher route. Ranked 16th on the UMB seeding list, the four-time World Cup winner missed out on a direct main-draw spot and must start from the final qualification round on November 5 in Group A.
The round features 36 players split into 12 groups of three, with only 12 group winners and the three best runners-up advancing to the main draw. Facing a stacked field that includes Torbjörn Blomdahl, Peter Ceulemans, and Ruben Legazpi, Quyet Chien is under intense pressure, where even a single lapse could cost a spot in the next round.
Eleven other Vietnamese players will begin their campaigns from earlier qualification rounds starting November 2.
The tournament features a star-studded lineup including Cho Myung-woo (RoK), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Marco Zanetti (Italy), and Tayfun Tasdemir (Türkiye). Qualification matches run from November 2 to 5, followed by the main draw on November 6, with the knockout rounds taking place on November 7-8.
Latest billiards rankings: Phuong Vinh breaks into world top 10 as Quyet Chien drops
VOV.VN - Bao Phuong Vinh has risen to 10th in the world, becoming the only Vietnamese cueist to climb the rankings released by the World Union of Billiard Carom (UMB), while Tran Quyet Chien continues to slide following the World Championship.
