Tran Quyet Chien is no longer 'alone'

Looking ahead to the Seoul World Cup 2024 (taking place from November 4-10 in South Korea), Vietnam will have 11 players competing in 3-cushion carom billiards. This is a record for the number of Vietnamese players participating in a tournament held abroad. Not only in terms of quantity, but the quality of Vietnamese players has also improved significantly compared to the past. The timing of the Seoul World Cup 2024 (only about a week after the Veghel World Cup 2024 concludes) is also advantageous, as Vietnamese players can maintain stability in both their mental state and competitive feel.

Vietnam's number 1 billiards player, Tran Quyet Chien

Quyet Chien is naturally still the most anticipated name, as the number one Vietnamese player just won the championship in the Netherlands on October 26th, thus securing his fourth title at a World Cup tournament. But now, the competition for the title is no longer just Quyet Chien's affair, as players like Tran Thanh Luc, Bao Phuong Vinh, Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu, Chiem Hong Thai… also promise to make the tournament in South Korea even more exciting for fans.

Tran Quyet Chien is on the verge of reclaiming the world number one ranking. If he continues to advance further in the Seoul World Cup 2024, he hopes to return to the top spot, a position he achieved in June of this year. The Vietnamese number one player received a bye to the main draw (32 players), placing him in Group B, and his first opponent has been determined: Seo Chang-hoon from host country South Korea. Meanwhile, Thanh Luc (competing from the fourth qualifying round) has already achieved his goal of reaching the world top 10 after just one tournament. The reigning World Championship runner-up will aim for his first-ever appearance in a World Cup billiards semi-final. Meanwhile, Hong Thai (competing from the fourth qualifying round) is a talented young player expected to make a strong comeback after his unfortunate last-minute withdrawal from the Veghel World Cup 2024.

Thanh Tu (who competed in the third qualifying round) is currently receiving a lot of attention after his outstanding performance at the 2024 Veghel World Cup. This player is already a familiar face in Vietnamese 3-cushion billiards, but the tournament in the Netherlands marked his first brilliant appearance on an international stage within the World Billiards Federation (UMB) system, and his first medal win (3rd place). His convincing victories against legends like Torbjorn Blomdahl (round of 32), world number one Dick Jaspers (quarterfinals), and his skillful match against Frederic Caudron have made Thanh Tu a new "phenomenon." The 30-year-old is expected to continue his momentum and perform brilliantly at the 2024 Seoul World Cup.

3 Vietnamese players compete in the second qualifying round today ( November 5).

Of the three Vietnamese players who competed yesterday (November 4th), only Nguyen Dinh Luan advanced past the first qualifying round of the Seoul 2024 World Cup. In the second qualifying round, which takes place today (November 5th), Dinh Luan, along with Thon Viet Hoang Minh and Do Nguyen Trung Hau, will be seeking a ticket to the third qualifying round.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-quyet-chien-khong-con-don-doc-185241104172027941.htm