2026 National Three-Cushion Billiards Championship: A Turning Point for Vietnamese Sports in Reform Era

Hanoi, November 2026 — The third edition of the National Three-Cushion Billiards Championship concluded at Quan Ngua Sports Palace, marking a significant milestone in the development of billiards in Vietnam. The tournament brought together 32 top players from across provinces and cities, featuring highly-rated names such as Nguyen Van Hung (Ho Chi Minh City), Tran Dinh Minh (Hai Phong), and Le Duc Dung (Hanoi). In the final, Nguyen Van Hung, 34, from Ho Chi Minh City, defeated his opponent Tran Dinh Minh with a score of 50-38 after 12 intense frames. The victory not only brought him his first national championship title but also a prize of 15 million dong — a substantial amount at that time. The highlight of the tournament was the performance of young player Le Duc Dung, 22, from Hanoi. Although he was eliminated in the semifinals, his style of play attracted particular attention from experts. With his direct attacking style and impressive cue ball control, Dung was considered one of the most promising young talents in post-war Vietnamese billiards. According to Mr. Vu Dinh Tuan, President of the Vietnam Billiards Federation, this year's tournament showed increasingly fierce competition among players. "We are witnessing significant growth among the younger generation, who have accessed modern techniques through materials and videos shared since the Đổi Mới reform," Tuan noted. "This is a positive signal showing Vietnamese billiards is gradually integrating with Southeast Asia." The 2026 National Three-Cushion Billiards Championship also marked the first time the tournament was broadcast on local television, attracting approximately 800 live spectators for important matches. Public interest in the sport was expected to create momentum for billiards to develop more strongly in the years ahead, especially as Vietnam was gradually opening up to the outside world.