Pool

Dương Quốc Hoàng poses with a trophy of the Billiards Scottish Open 2024 on May 6 in Glasgow. — Photo courtesy of Matchroom Pool

HÀ NỘI — Dương Quốc Hoàng made earthquake after winning the Billiards Scottish Open 2024 on May 6 in Glasgow.

It was the first time that he won a Pool Open title and he was also the first Vietnamese to take the top podium of the opening leg of a British double-header on the World Nineball Tour (WNT) at the renowned McGoldrick’s Pool and Sports Bar.

It was a stunning final which saw him defeat American Oscar Dominguez 10-9.

He said: “I am over the moon now. It is difficult to describe my feelings when winning my first international title. Honestly, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. My aspirations, all the pressure and hard work have brought me to this sweet result today."

Hoàng was one of the five Vietnamese representatives at the tournament, but he was the only survivor through to round 16. However, his journey to the top in Glasgow was anything but easy.

The Vietnamese star suffered a 7-10 loss to former world nine-ball and 10-ball champion Ko Ping-han of Chinese Taipei in his first match. As the tournament applied the double elimination format until the round of 16, Hoàng dropped to the losers' branch, but he made up a nine-win streak to take the trophy.

He came from behind to beat world No 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruíz of Spain 10-6 in the seventh match of the tournament.

Then he knocked out American Shane Van Boening, who is considered one of the best players of all time, 10-5 in the round of 16 before he eliminated Albanian Eklent Kaci, champion of the WPA World Ten-ball Championship in 2021 and 2023, 10-5 in the quarter-finals and defending world champion Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei 10-9 in the semi-finals.

In the final, Hoàng was leading 8-4 with Dominguez pushing back but it was not enough to take down the young player, who was immediately dubbed a 'Comeback King'.

The Vietnamese bounced back to win six games in a row to beat Dominguez 10-8 and walked away with a purse of US$12,500.

"In the final, I was a bit exhausted physically and under pressure, so I didn't feel very comfortable. But in the end, luck came at the right time. I would like to thank everyone who accompanied and supported me throughout the tournament," said Hoàng.

Dương Quốc Hoàng, described as a comeback king, secures his first WNT title after his remarkable performance. — Photo courtesy of Quốc Hoàng

Meanwhile, organisers at the Matchroom posted: "Incredible! He was almost certain to exit the tournament at the hands of Carlo Biado, but he has turned it around in incredible fashion including a stunning win over on-form players like Ko!

"Simply incredible! Việt Nam's Dương Quốc Hoàng takes down Oscar Dominguez to win the 2024 Scottish Open, his first WNT ranking title and Việt Nam's first champion in the WNT era."

The Scottish Open attracted a 96-player field – perhaps one of the greatest seen in British pool – with all of the world’s top 10 players on the world nine-ball rankings, including 29 of the world’s top ranked 32 players.

Hoàng's next target will be the UK Open from May 7-12 with the WNT event held at the Telford International Centre, in England and broadcast live on Sky Sports. — VNS