Defeating Korean opponent Kim Jun Tae with a score of 50-46 in the final match taking place tonight (May 26), Tran Duc Minh won the 3-cushion carom billiards World Cup for the first time.
The final match was extremely intense. Tran Duc Minh started impressively, he continuously led and left Kim Jun Tae far behind. There was even a time when Tran Duc Minh led 44-24 (whichever player hits 50 points, that player will win in the end).
Tran Duc Minh was excellent in the final (Photo: Hai Long).
However, due to leading too far from the opponent, Vietnam’s hand is somewhat subjective. In addition, lack of experience in major international tournaments caused Tran Duc Minh to lose focus at the end of the final.
And that is the opportunity for Kim Jun Tae to excel. In the next matches, the Korean player scored 22 points, while Tran Duc Minh only scored one point. Kim Jun Tae led 46-45, in front of the thrill of the Vietnamese audience packed into Nguyen Du Gymnasium (HCMC).
However, at the most crucial moment, Duc Minh’s high level was shown, he hit the decisive balls very well. Even Tran Duc Minh “runs the ball” very well, putting Kim Jun Tae’s ball in a difficult position.
Kim Jun Tae also had a very good final match (Photo: Hai Long).
The Vietnamese player led 47-46, then broke away to win 50-46 after 23 rounds, winning the championship.
This is Tran Duc Minh’s first World Cup title. He also became the second Vietnamese to win the 3-way carom billiards World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City, after Tran Quyet Chien a few years ago.
After the World Cup round in Ho Chi Minh City, the 2024 World Championship (world championship) of 3-cushion carom billiards will take place in Binh Thuan, this coming September. The reigning world champion is also a Vietnamese: Bao Phuong Vinh.