HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Quốc Nguyện and Trần Quyết Chiến advanced to the second round of the HCM City World Cup 3-Cushions which kicked off yesterday with the participation of hundreds athletes from various countries.

Nguyện won over Turkey’s Semih Sayginer while Chiến defeated No 4 seed Daniel Sanchez of Spain.

It is the third time in a row that HCM City has hosted a world-level tournament under the World Billiards Union (UMB).

More 130 athletes participated in the qualifications, and 15 of them, including three of the hosts, join 17 others in the main round.

Việt Nam have total of six players in this round.

Deputy head of the organising board Nguyễn Minh Hoàng said a total of 52,000 euros (US$58,000) will be awarded to the leading athletes. The winner will walk away with 8,000 euros ($9,000), a significant increase compared with last year’s 5,000 euros ($5,600), and 80 points to strengthen his world ranking.

Besides the cash award, athletes who display outstanding performance will receive an "on spot" bonus from supporters. Currently, the collected money for this bonus is $2,000, which will increase in the coming days. Belgian Bỉ Eddy Leppens is leading the board with a series of 20 points in one inning.

UMB president Farouk Barki, meanwhile, express his surprise upon hearing about the bonus, saying it was the first time he had heard of any such kind of reward. 

The tournament will end on Sunday. — VNS