Tran Quyet Chien created history by becoming the first Vietnamese billiard player to achieve the top rank in the world, following his victory in Round 16 of the Ankara World Cup 3-Cushion 2024 on Friday evening (Vietnam time), aided by the sudden elimination of his direct competitors.

Chien faced compatriot Tran Thanh Luc in the knockout Round of 16 match. 

The familiarity between the two players led to a cautious start, with Chien eventually taking a commanding lead of 26-16 before the break, and extending it to 39-17 upon returning. 

Despite a strong comeback from Luc narrowing the gap to 39-45, Chien maintained composure and secured a hard-fought 50-39 victory after 29 intense turns. 

This triumph not only propelled Chien into the quarterfinals but also elevated him to the world No. 1 ranking.

Meanwhile, his main rivals Cho Myung Woo, Kim Jun Tae, and Dick Jaspers had been early eliminated.

Just hours later, at dawn on Saturday morning, Chien competed against South Korean player Heo Jung Han in the quarterfinals. 

Initially leading 7-1, Chien faced setbacks and allowed Heo Jung Han to take a 13-10 lead. 

Vietnamese billiard player Bao Phuong Vinh at the Ankara World Cup 3-Cushion 2024. Photo: Union Mondiale de Billard

Despite Chien’s efforts to regain momentum and briefly lead 27-23, Heo Jung Han’s decisive 9-point shot turned the tide to 32-27 in his favor. 

Heo Jung Han maintained his advantage, eventually winning 50-39 after 24 turns to advance to the semifinals. 

This defeat marked the end of Chien’s journey in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Bao Phuong Vinh, another Vietnamese player currently ranked 12th in the world, advanced to the semifinals after securing two consecutive victories on Friday evening. 

Vinh, who has been the top performer in the tournament so far, will face Sidhom Sameh of Egypt in the semifinals. 

Their match is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm on Saturday.

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