Tran Quyet Chien and Bao Phuong Vinh delivered a near-flawless display, proving they are serious contenders for the title.
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Vietnamese player Tran Quyet Chien of the Vietnam billiards team (Photo: UMB) |
Vietnam entered the knockout stage as the runner-up in Group C, with Quyet Chien - Vietnam’s top player and world No.4 - struggling for consistency, winning just one of his three matches. In contrast, Phuong Vinh remained unbeaten, keeping Vietnam’s hopes alive. But when it mattered most in the quarterfinals, the Vietnamese duo stepped up big time.
Quyet Chien took on Javier Vera (world No. 56) - a player who had troubled him in past encounters. This time, however, he left no room for doubt, exploding out of the gate with an 11-point opening series that left Vera reeling. The Mexican fought back with some solid shots, but Quyet Chien was in full control, adding a five-point run in the eighth inning and another six-pointer in the 22nd before sealing a 40-28 win in 23 innings. It was a statement victory for the Vietnamese ace, shaking off his group-stage struggles and sending a message to the rest of the field.
Meanwhile, Phuong Vinh was on another level in his match against Christian Hernandez. The young star from Binh Duong province wasted no time, dictating the pace with precision and confidence. He wrapped up a commanding 40-14 victory in just 16 innings, keeping his undefeated streak alive and proving he’s a force to be reckoned with.
With a semifinal showdown against Belgium up next at 5:00 pm (local time) on March 16, Vietnam is fired up for revenge. The two teams battled to a draw in the group stage, with Quyet Chien falling to Peter Ceulemans while Phuong Vinh outclassed Roland Forthomme. But this time, there’s no room for a tie - if the match is deadlocked, it will go to a "Scotch Double" tiebreaker, where all four players take turns racing to 15 points.
With Quyet Chien regaining form and Phuong Vinh on fire, Vietnam is just one step away from a shot at the championship.
Source: VNA