American player Dang Hoang Huy criticized 14-year-old female opponent Savannah Easton for not giving a signal when hitting the ball, at the 2024 CSI 10-ball tournament.
Hoang Huy met Easton in the second round of the losers bracket, the CSI 10-ball World Championship in Las Vegas on the evening of February 28, and whoever lost would be eliminated. In game 8, when Hoang Huy was leading 5-2, Easton's turn, the 14-year-old female player intended to add ball number 2 to ball number 3 in the corner pocket. After she hit ball number 3 into the pocket, she was about to hit ball number 2 again, but the Vietnamese player stopped her.
Pool player Dang Hoang Huy at a pool tournament in Las Vegas, USA, February 2024. Photo: NVCC
Hoang Huy said that Easton never gave any indication that she would hit the ball, or "call" the shot. She explained that the situation was quite clear, everyone understood that she would hit the ball. But Hoang Huy said that the CSI rules clearly stipulate that "calling" is required when hitting unclear ball positions, and all situations of hitting the ball are considered unclear.
Easton hesitated for a moment, then returned to his seat and let Hoang Huy take his turn. The only representative of Vietnam at the tournament told her to calm down, then he took his turn, pocketing the number 2 ball. He won the match 7-6, eliminating Easton.
Hoang Huy did not reply, just packed up his equipment and left. He won one more match in the tournament, against another home player, Oscar Valdiviezo. Then he lost the next match, finishing ninth overall, receiving $300 in prize money.
CSI is the International Pool Association, which is separate from the World Pool Federation (WPA). The CSI 10-ball pool rules also differ from the WPA. Under the WPA rules, the player must call the ball in situations where the shot is "unclear". However, they do not specifically explain what "unclear" shots are.
The situation where Hoang Huy found fault with Easton.
According to the CSI rules, players must also call "unclear" shots. These include "a-ball", "balance", "plus", "stick" or shots that the referee determines are unclear. The rules also state that "unclear shots must be called, no matter how simple the shot".
Despite following the rules, Hoang Huy was still criticized not only by the above-mentioned cameraman. On social networks such as Youtube or Facebook , many Americans attacked the Vietnamese player. Account Dustin Erickson commented: "This video went viral across the US. I live in Wisconsin, and many of my pool friends sent me this video. Whether it's legal or not, I don't want to be like Hoang Huy". Account Keith Daniel Brown was more harsh when commenting: "He's a real loser. You shouldn't catch mistakes like that".
Tiffany Easton, who claims to be Savannah Easton's mother, said her daughter did not shake Hoang Huy's hand at the end of the match. "She said she only shakes hands with people she respects, and this is the first time she has refused to shake someone's hand," Easton wrote. "I support her decision."
Many Americans also defended Hoang Huy's actions, and considered this a lesson for Easton. Jim Monday wrote: "As the law says, Hoang Huy did nothing too outrageous, and Easton needs to realize that she can be criticized in situations like this." Jennifer Speer agreed: "People forget that there are cultural differences here. I think people still do that in Vietnam. He came here to win. And whether people agree or not, they have to admit that he is right and has the right to criticize him." Joshua Pangilinan wrote briefly: "People are being rude to him."
Hoang Huy is a player from Ho Chi Minh City, currently ranked 207th in the world according to WPA. At the Las Vegas Open a few days ago, he caused a surprise when he defeated the world's Top 10 player Albin Ouschan.
Xuan Binh
Source link
![[OCOP REVIEW] Tu Duyen Syrup - The essence of herbs from the mountains and forests of Nhu Thanh](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/6/5/58ca32fce4ec44039e444fbfae7e75ec)
Comment (0)