Why did Duong Quoc Hoang shoot after Nam Pham in the penalty shootout when the Vietnamese team was eliminated at the world championship?

There was widespread disappointment over Vietnam's 2-3 loss to Austria in the World Team 10-Ball quarterfinals. A major point of confusion centered on why Duong Quoc Hoang was scheduled to shoot after Nam Pham during the decisive penalty round.

Nam Pham shooting before Duong Quoc Hoang in the penalty round was mandatory

According to shares from Duong Quoc Hoang's fanpage and later from Nam Pham's own personal page, the tournament organizers规定 the penalty shooting order must follow the playing order from the first set. This meant the Vietnamese team had registered the order as Nam – Hoang – Vang from the very start of the match. When entering the penalty shootout, the players were forced to strictly adhere to this list and were not allowed to make changes.

Therefore, Nam Pham stepping up to take the first shot was not a tactical decision made in the final moments, but a consequence of the tournament's regulations. This also answers the question of "why Hoang Sao wasn't placed to shoot before Nam Pham."

Returning to the nerve-wracking "penalty shootout," Austria's Albin Ouschan successfully completed the opening shot. Meanwhile, Nam Pham was unsuccessful on his attempt. Although Mario He later also made an error, the psychological advantage had somewhat shifted to the European representative, and the Austrian players capitalized well on their chances to secure a 3-2 victory in the deciding set and advance to the semifinals.

The penalty shootout in 10-ball pool is an exceptionally harsh challenge, where each shot is highly individual and psychological pressure weighs heavily. Even a small mistake can determine the entire team's journey.

An apology from Nam Pham

After the match, Nam Pham posted an apology on his personal Facebook page: "I sincerely apologize to everyone for not performing well in the penalty shootout, leading to the Vietnamese team's defeat. Regarding the shooting order, we had to follow the order from the first set, so I was the one to shoot first. It is truly regrettable to have missed the chance to advance. I apologize to my teammates Duong Quoc Hoang and Bui Xuan Vang."

This statement once again confirms that the shooting order was predetermined by the rules. Simultaneously, it shows the sense of responsibility of the 1998-born player, who was willing to take the blame upon himself. Despite the unfortunate exit, the fact that Vietnam pushed a championship contender like Austria to a match lasting until the fifth set and only conceded defeat in a penalty shootout demonstrates the composure and clear progress of the players. At the world-class level, the line between victory and defeat sometimes hinges on a single shot.

Last year, Duong Quoc Hoang himself faced significant criticism after a defeat at the Premier League Pool 2025. But recently, he shone brilliantly by winning that very tournament. It is hoped that Nam Pham will also rise strongly to achieve success. And he greatly needs encouragement rather than harsh criticism from Vietnamese billiards fans.