Champion Tran Duc Minh unexpectedly did not attend the World Cup in Korea, why?

Want to attend the Seoul Billiards World Cup 2024, but...

The 2024 Seoul World Cup takes place in Korea from November 4 to 10. This tournament continues to witness the participation of many Vietnamese 3-cushion carom billiards players, including: Tran Quyet Chien, Chiem Hong Thai, Tran Thanh Luc, Bao Phuong Vinh, Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu, Nguyen Hoan Tat, Dao Van Ly, Thon Viet Hoang Minh, Do Nguyen Trung Hau, Nguyen Dinh Luan and Pham Van Son.

11 players is a record number of Vietnamese 3-cushion carom billiards players competing in a tournament held abroad. However, many fans wonder why Tran Duc Minh did not participate in the tournament taking place in the land of kimchi this time. After winning the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2024, Duc Minh is a face that receives a lot of expectations from the audience, and he also participated in the World Cup Veghel (Netherlands, ending on October 26).

Tran Duc Minh was unlucky in his first time abroad to attend the World Cup billiards.

Speaking to Thanh Nien , billiard player Tran Duc Minh said he planned to attend the 2024 Seoul World Cup but could not prepare the procedures and documents (visa) in time, so he could not fly to Korea. Tran Duc Minh's name is still updated in the registration list of the World Carom Billiards Federation (UMB), and will compete from the fourth qualifying round (if participating). "I myself do not have much experience competing abroad, so I am still not familiar with the procedures. If I do not participate in this tournament, I will try in another tournament," Tran Duc Minh shared.

Need to be persistent

The Veghel Billiards World Cup 2024 in the Netherlands is the first time player Tran Duc Minh has gone abroad to compete in a tournament under the UMB system. The player born in 1981 is a name that is expected, as he is in good form. However, the champion of the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City World Cup has not been able to succeed.

At the Veghel 2024 World Cup, Duc Minh started from the fourth qualifying round. He had a smooth start when he made a spectacular comeback to win against the host country's player nicknamed "giant" Sam Van Etten (who is up to 2.02 m tall). But in the decisive match, the Vietnamese player was defeated by Turgay Orak (Türkiye) and had to stop unfortunately.

Tran Duc Minh once caused a surprise when he won the Ho Chi Minh City World Cup in May 2024.

PHOTO: VIETNAM SPORT PHOTO

Tran Duc Minh expressed: "This is a long-term game. If you decide to compete in the World Cup stages, you need to be persistent, you cannot just participate in one tournament and win immediately. Foreign players all have large investments. I myself am not outstanding, I cannot succeed immediately the first time. Only Frederic Caudron is different from the rest, so he has made faster progress. In terms of international competition experience, I cannot compare to many foreign players. Besides, I also need a little more luck."

From now until the end of 2024, Tran Duc Minh still has the opportunity to participate in another World Cup stage, taking place in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) from December 1 to 7. The 43-year-old player said that he is completing the procedures to have a second time going abroad to compete at the UMB arena, but the result is still uncertain.

On the latest UMB rankings, Tran Duc Minh is currently ranked 26th. The Hue native's goal is to enter the group that is given special permission to compete from the main round (top 14) of the World Cup billiards stages.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/billiards-player-tran-duc-minh-bat-ngo-khong-du-world-cup-han-quoc-tai-sao-185241103120041508.htm