What did Tran Quyet Chien say before his match at the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup?

Tran Quyet Chien wants to equal the achievements of billiards geniuses Caudron and Eddy Merckx

The Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup has started for 3 days, and is currently in the final qualifying round. However, Tran Quyet Chien has not yet appeared. Accordingly, Vietnam's number 1 player is scheduled to play in the main round (round 32), because he is in the top 14 players on the rankings of the World Carom Billiards Federation (UMB).

Tran Quyet Chien will compete on May 23, when the main round of the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup opens. Sharing with Thanh Nien Newspaper, the Ha Tinh native said: “When I saw my teammates competing at home these past few days, I felt very excited. I have prepared well and am ready to show myself on the field.” Quyet Chien believes that competing at home is a big advantage for players, but it also comes with pressure. “Everything has two sides. But for me at this time, I feel like I have more advantages, when I compete under the cheers of a large home audience. Through that, I will be more excited, motivated to overcome the obstacles ahead,” said Vietnam’s No. 1 player.

Tran Quyet Chien currently owns 4 World Cup billiards championships.

PHOTO: NH

In 2018, Tran Quyet Chien won the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup. This is also the first World Cup Billiards championship in his career. At this time, Quyet Chien wants to equal the achievements of "genius" Frederic Caudron and Eddy Merckx at the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup. Accordingly, Caudron and Merckx have both won twice in Ho Chi Minh City. "It has been 10 years since the first time the Billiards World Cup stopped in Ho Chi Minh City (in 2015), and it is also the 8th time it has been held here. Of which, 2 Belgian players (Caudron and Merckx) have won twice in Ho Chi Minh City. I want to be the 3rd person to do this," Quyet Chien emphasized.

Regarding his position on the UMB rankings, Tran Quyet Chien affirmed: “I was once ranked No. 1 in the world, but for me that is just a number. I only care about my level, form and performance in each match. Of course, when I perform well, I will win many matches, tournaments and gradually move towards the No. 1 position. Therefore, I will try to aim for that position again.”

Eddy Merckx is one of two players who have won the World Cup billiards twice in Ho Chi Minh City.

PHOTO: PL

Tran Thanh Luc: "Hopefully the cup will stay at home"

Like Tran Quyet Chien, Tran Thanh Luc was also given a special entry into the main round of the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup 2025, and will start on May 23. The player born in 1990 is the first champion of 2025, when he was crowned at the Bogota - Colombia Billiards World Cup last March. This is Thanh Luc's first prestigious international title, bringing the 35-year-old player's career to a new page. In the immediate future, this achievement has helped Thanh Luc break through the rankings, rising to 5th place, right behind his senior Tran Quyet Chien.

Before the match day at the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, Thanh Luc shared: "After the first championship in Bogota, I feel a bit of pressure when preparing to enter the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup this time. However, I will try to show myself, compete with the best form to not disappoint the expectations of the fans". In addition, Tran Thanh Luc also hopes that thanks to the advantage of playing at home, many Vietnamese players will go deep in the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, thereby the championship trophy will stay at home.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-quyet-chien-noi-gi-truoc-ngay-xuat-tran-tai-world-cup-billiards-tphcm-185250522160203646.htm