Bao Phuong Vinh passed the group stage of the World Cup billiards

EGYPT - Reigning world champions Bao Phuong Vinh and Tran Thanh Luc both entered the round of 16 of the 3-cushion carom World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh.

Vietnam has four players participating in the group stage of this World Cup, of which Thanh Luc and Chiem Hong Thai passed the qualifying rounds, while Phuong Vinh and Tran Quyet Chien were directly entered into the group because they are in the world's Top 10. However, only two representatives advanced, including the reigning world champion Phuong Vinh, and Asian runner-up Thanh Luc.

Player Tran Thanh Luc at the 3-cushion carom World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai province, Egypt on December 7, 2023. Photo: UMB

In Group G on December 7, Phuong Vinh started with a 40-36 victory over Sam van Etten. In the next game, he lost to legend Eddy Merckx 30-40. Forced to win in the final game, the 28-year-old player completed his mission by defeating Peter Ceulemans 40-29, to finish second in the group. Phuong Vinh, with an average (avg) of 1.549 points per turn, advanced with Merckx.

The most impressive Vietnamese player in the group stage was Thanh Luc, when he won all three games in Group D, respectively against Dick Jaspers 40-31, Berkay Karakurt 40-37 and Heo Jung-han 40-34. He topped the group with an average score of 1,379 points, and advanced with Jaspers.

In the round of 16, Phuong Vinh will face Daniel Morales (Colombia) at 4:00 p.m. today, December 8, Hanoi time. Thanh Luc will meet Burak Hashas at 6:30 p.m.

Phuong Vinh, 28 years old, is the first Vietnamese player to win the World Championship, after just over a year of international competition. In the first two World Cups after winning the World Championship, he stopped in the group stage. But this time, Phuong Vinh has broken the curse. He is ranked ninth in the world according to the UMB table, while Thanh Luc is ranked 34th. Their two opponents in the round of 16 are both outside the Top 70.

The World Cup in Egypt is the sixth and final stage of this year, taking place from December 3 to December 9. Phuong Vinh's best result in this arena is the round of 16.

Vnexpress.net