With the score locked at 33-33 after 32 grueling innings, Nguyen Dinh Khuat faced a razor-thin margin for error. The Vietnamese contender, who had trailed by eight points earlier, delivered under pressure-clinching a 35-33 victory over Atsuki Kyota in a World Billiards Cup 2026 qualifying thriller in Belgium.
This was no routine win. Khuat's campaign in the third qualifying round began with a daunting 7-15 deficit after nine innings. The turning point arrived in the tenth, when he unleashed an 11-point scoring run-catapulting himself from the brink to an 18-15 lead and flipping the match's momentum.
That single surge did not guarantee smooth sailing. Khuat's scoring rhythm faltered in the closing stages, allowing Kyota to claw back. By the 30th inning, Khuat's lead had shrunk to a single point. The Japanese player levelled at 33-33, setting up a nerve-shredding finish. But Khuat's composure held, and he sealed the win in the 33rd inning-securing a vital opening victory in his group.
The stakes in this phase are unforgiving. The third qualifying round features 48 players, split into 16 groups of three. Each group plays a single round-robin, with only the top player from each advancing to the fourth qualifying round. For Khuat, this comeback not only boosts his standing but also puts him in pole position ahead of his next must-win clash against Turkey's Mohamed Goren.
Nguyen Dinh Khuat is one of only two Vietnamese players in this stage, underscoring the competitive intensity and international reach of the World Billiards Cup. His ability to recover from a deep deficit against a seasoned Japanese opponent signals both technical skill and mental resilience-qualities that define success in elite cue sports.
In a format where every point and every inning can decide a player's fate, Khuat's performance is a masterclass in seizing opportunity and surviving pressure. The World Billiards Cup 2026 qualifiers are not just a test of talent, but of nerve and adaptability. Khuat's dramatic turnaround is a reminder that in this sport, the match is never over until the final point is played-and those who can weather the storm are the ones who shape the tournament's destiny.
