At the end of September, 11 clubs sent more than 150 athletes to Dien Bien's first open club billiards and snooker tournament. Yet billiards is missing from the province's high-performance sports training plan for 2026-2030. Who will fund and organise the next steps for talented young players?
Organisers said the tournament was intended not only to encourage wider participation but also to identify promising players for further preparation and competition at regional and national level.
A competition without a clear development route
The province's plan targets more than 200 athletes across talent-development, youth and regional levels in athletics, badminton, karate, taekwondo and pencak silat. Billiards is not on the list. The gap is real. According to Nhan Dan, young athletes in those five sports take annual tests of height, weight, physical fitness and aptitude. They also receive structured support, including individual training plans, accommodation and meals. Schedules are arranged to limit disruption to their education.
For billiards players, the immediate needs are clear: answers on training costs, coaching plans and travel to competitions outside the province.
Vietnam had two invitations to Premier League Pool 2026: organisers invited Duong Quoc Hoang and Bui Truong An. VnExpress reported that Hoang was progressing through the tournament stages in September 2026.
Vietnam's international results raise the stakes
The omission sits uneasily beside Vietnam's record in cue sports. Earlier this year, Duong Quoc Hoang, then ranked 21st, beat third-ranked Francisco Sanchez Ruiz to become the first Asian player to win the Premier League Pool title. In three-cushion billiards, Tran Quyet Chien and Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu beat host Germany to win the world team championship.
Vietnam also hosts major international events, including the Predator WPA World 10-Ball Championship in Ho Chi Minh City and the Hanoi Open Pool. The Hanoi Junior Open runs alongside the latter for players under 17. These annual competitions connect players at home with the international game. But holding tournaments alone does not give players access to that level.
Dien Bien's first event has shown there is demand and a base of club players. It has not yet built the coaching, age-group competition structure or athlete-support system needed for a lasting pathway. The province should use the turnout to make the case for those foundations. Without coaches, planned training and help getting to competitions outside the province, the open could remain a successful one-off instead of becoming a route for young billiards talent.
