* Tran Quyet Chien expected to write new page in Vietnamese billiards history
World no. 67 Nguyen Duc Anh Chien recorded two overwhelming triumphs against Lutfi Cenet (Turkey) and Riad Nady (Egypt) to secure top spot in Group G and to make it through to the Round of 32.
In Group I, Ma Minh Cam of Vietnam (world no. 22) made light work of Japan’s Hideaki Kobayashi (world no. 68) with a score of 40-17 after only 17 cues before finishing off Uymaz Birol of Turkey (world no. 29) 40-31 to advance.
World no. 35 Duong Anh Vu followed Chien and Cam to advance in Group K, as he took Vietnamese compatriot Ma Xuan Cuong (world no. 31) to 40-36 within 21 cues and then beat Sang Woon Ko of the RoK after 29 cues.
In Group C, two Vietnamese players, Ngo Dinh Nai (world no. 17) and Do Nguyen Trung Hau (world no. 51), were both ousted by Egyptian Fillipos Kasidokostas (world no. 46). It was a great pity as Ngo Dinh Nai was seen as one of Vietnam’s leading hopes going into the Seoul tournament.
Nonetheless, with the three qualifiers Nguyen Duc Anh Chien, Ma Minh Cam and Duong Anh Vu, Vietnam has booked five berths in the last 32, alongside the two seeds Tran Quyet Chien (world no. 7) and Nguyen Quoc Nguyen (world no. 16), only six fewer than the RoK, currently the world’s most advanced billiards country.
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Vietnam's Duong Anh Vu (pictured) sets up a crunch encounter against nine-time world champion Daniel Sanchez (Spain, world no. 18) in the knockout stage.
The Round of 32 matches are scheduled for today, with Ma Minh Cam playing former world champion Fillipos Kasidokostas (Egypt, world no. 46); Tran Quyet Chien taking on Kim Jae Guen (RoK, world no. 64); Duong Anh Vu facing the toughest challenge against nine-time world champion Daniel Sanchez (Spain, world no. 18); and Nguyen Quoc Nguyen playing a Vietnamese derby with Nguyen Duc Anh Chien.
