Due to not paying attention to the visa expiration date, player Quoc Hoang accepted to participate in the World Pool Masters but then had to withdraw.
On his personal Facebook account on May 8, Quoc Hoang wrote that he had prepared a valid UK visa early, receiving it in March 2023. "I subjectively thought that the visa would be valid as soon as it was issued, so I immediately accepted the invitation to the tournament with joy," he added. "But I paid a heavy price, and this personal mistake is unforgivable. I will practice five, ten times more, remember it and never make such a mistake again."
Vietnam's number one pool player added that his visa is only valid from May 22, while the tournament opens on May 10.
Billiard player Duong Quoc Hoang in a photo posted on his personal Facebook on May 8, 2023. Photo: FBNV
Quoc Hoang was not originally on the list of players to compete in the tournament. But after world No. 11 Fedor Gorst failed to get a visa to enter the UK, the organizers invited Quoc Hoang to replace him. On the evening of May 5, they announced that Quoc Hoang would replace Gorst, and the Vietnamese player accepted. If he participates in the tournament, he will be the first Vietnamese player in history to participate.
After Quoc Hoang declined the invitation because his visa was not yet valid, the organizers quickly found a replacement for him, Spanish player David Alcaide. Alcaide is ranked 29th in the world, according to the scoreboard of Matchroom - the organizers of the tournament, and has won the Masters tournament twice in 2017 and 2019. The 45-year-old will replace Quoc Hoang to meet Shane van Boening in the round of 16.
The World Pool Masters is the most prestigious invitational tournament in the pool world, taking place annually since 1993. The organizers usually invite the world's top 14 players, along with two special offers. The two players who were given special offers this time are Zheng Xiao Huai (China) and James Aranas (Philippines).
Duong Quoc Hoang, 36 years old, ranked 47th in the world, made a splash when he reached the quarterfinals of the world 9-ball pool, and won third place at the Las Vegas Open 10-ball pool in early 2023.
Xuan Binh
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