Vietnam's three cushion billiards teams are about to face their toughest challenge yet. This September, the country's leading women and youth players head to Gradignan, France, for the World Championships, carrying the weight of recent Asian victories and the expectation to hold their own against a new wave of European and international talent.
The women's squad features Nguyen Thi Linh, Nguyen Duc Yen Sinh, and Nguyen Thi Bich Tram, each bringing a different strength. Linh comes in with a world-level bronze from the 2025 Women's World Championship in Spain. Yen Sinh is the current Asian champion after her strong showing in Ho Chi Minh City. Bich Tram made her mark at home by beating Yen Sinh in the HBSF Tour 2 final, showing she can handle pressure and play with confidence. The Vietnam Billiards Federation notes that both Bich Tram and Yen Sinh left for France right after their domestic match, a sign of their focus and preparation.
"The official European Billiards & Snooker Association announcement confirms that both the women's and junior three cushion world championships begin in Gradignan, France, on September 15, 2026, with the women's event running through September 17 and the junior event from September 18 to 20."
- European Billiards & Snooker Association
The women's championship runs from September 15 to 17, with 24 players split into eight groups. Linh is in Group C with Gozin Mujde (Turkey) and Claudia Patricia (Colombia). Bich Tram is in Group D with Boileans Jaime (Belgium) and Petersen Nana (Denmark). Yen Sinh, in Group E, faces Tram Steffi (Germany) and Haller Melanie (France). Only the top two in each group move on to the 16-player knockout round, so every match counts. The European Billiards & Snooker Association confirms this format, making each group stage game a must-win.
On the youth side, Dinh Trong Van and Nguyen Minh Tri will represent Vietnam from September 18 to 20. Trong Van, a former national under-22 champion and 2026 Asian under-22 runner-up, is grouped with Polansky Toon (Belgium) and Cermak Nicolas (Czech Republic). Minh Tri, seen as a rising talent, faces Ibrahimov Amir (Germany) and Burkan Kivanc (Turkey). The youth event follows the same structure: 24 players, eight groups, and only two from each group advance, as set out in the tournament rules.
Vietnam's progress in cue sports is part of a wider trend. As reported earlier, the sport is growing across Asia and the Middle East, with new champions coming from both established and unexpected places.
"The Korean sports outlet MK Billiards reported on September 10, 2026, that Choi Dayoung secured a spot on the Korean national team and will compete at the 14th Women's World Three Cushion Championship in France. This highlights the international scale of the event, with strong contenders from outside Vietnam, and underscores the presence of multiple world-class athletes in the field."
- MK Billiards / MK News
For Vietnam, the goal in France is bigger than just medals. It's a chance to show that their system can produce top-level players in both women's and youth divisions. The group draws are tough, and the knockout rounds leave no room for mistakes. If Linh, Yen Sinh, or Bich Tram can turn their regional wins into results on the world stage, it would be a major step for Vietnamese billiards. The same goes for the youth team-one upset could change how Vietnam is seen internationally. The real test comes on the table, and the results in France will speak for themselves.
