Tran Quyet Chien faces his long-time rival.

Today (June 9th), the Ankara 2025 World Cup billiards officially kicks off in Türkiye. In the 3-cushion carom event, Vietnam has 10 players participating, with Tran Quyet Chien having already identified his first opponent in the main draw.

Tran Quyet Chien was given special treatment.

The Ankara 2025 World Cup billiards will take place from June 9-15. Ten Vietnamese players will compete: Tran Quyet Chien, Bao Phuong Vinh, Tran Thanh Luc, Chiem Hong Thai, Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu, Nguyen Hoan Tat, Thon Viet Hoang Minh, Nguyen Chi Long, Dao Van Ly, and Nguyen Dinh Luan. Of these, four players received special entry into the main draw (round of 32) of this World Cup billiards leg: Tran Quyet Chien, Phuong Vinh, Thanh Luc, and Hong Thai.

Quyet Chien (right) and Phuong Vinh were the 2024 World Team Championship winners.

PHOTO: UMB

According to the World Billiards Federation (UMB) ranking, Tran Quyet Chien is seeded number 1, in Group D, and his first opponent has been determined: Bao Phuong Vinh. This can be considered a highly anticipated clash between two of Vietnam's top 3-cushion carom billiards players. Also in Ankara in 2023, Phuong Vinh defeated Quyet Chien in the final of the World Championship, the most prestigious tournament in the UMB competition system. This title was a major turning point, ushering in a new chapter in the career of the player from Binh Duong . Most recently, in early June, Tran Quyet Chien and Bao Phuong Vinh clashed again in the final of the SCTV Cup 2025 international billiards tournament. Phuong Vinh once again defeated his senior opponent with a spectacular comeback.

Ankara is where Bao Phuong Vinh won the 2023 World Championship. However, the Turkish capital has never witnessed a Vietnamese player win a World Cup billiards tournament. The best performance by a Vietnamese player at the Ankara World Cup billiards tournament also belongs to Phuong Vinh. The 30-year-old player finished as runner-up, after losing to Heo Jung-han (South Korea) in the final in June 2024. Therefore, Vietnamese 3-cushion carom billiards fans are eagerly anticipating Vietnamese players to reach the top at this Ankara World Cup billiards tournament. Among them, Tran Quyet Chien remains the player receiving the highest expectations. In 2024, the number one Vietnamese player had a very successful start with a championship in the first World Cup tournament in Bogota, Colombia, and then continued to make history with Bao Phuong Vinh by winning the World Team Championship in Germany. However, as of this point in 2025, Tran Quyet Chien has yet to find his footing in his quest for a title. At the Bogota 2025 Billiards World Cup, Tran Quyet Chien was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to Dick Jaspers. Most unfortunately, in the semi-finals of the Ho Chi Minh City 2025 Billiards World Cup, the Vietnamese player lost to Jaspers (who later went on to win the championship).

In the Round of 32 of the Ankara 2025 World Cup Billiards, Chiem Hong Thai is in Group C with veteran Belgian player Eddy Merckx. Tran Thanh Luc will face Berkay Karakurt (Türkiye) in Group E. In addition, the remaining Vietnamese players will compete in qualifying rounds. Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu appeared in the fourth qualifying round. Dao Van Ly competed from the third qualifying round. Nguyen Chi Long, Nguyen Hoan Tat, and Thon Viet Hoang Minh started from the second qualifying round. Nguyen Dinh Luan entered the first qualifying round and will compete tonight (June 9th).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-quyet-chien-cham-tran-doi-thu-day-duyen-no-185250608191201281.htm