Vietnam's billiards team loses 2-3 to Austria, stops in quarterfinals of world championship

Vietnam's billiards squad has ended its run at the 2026 Predator WPA Teams 10-Ball World Championship after a hard-fought 2-3 loss to Austria in the quarterfinal round.

Facing an opponent considered a top contender for the title, boasting a roster of elite players like Albin Ouschan, Jasmin Ouschan, Mario He, and Max Lechner, the Vietnamese cueists put up a resilient fight, creating a tense and closely contested match that lasted until the final moments.

Under immense pressure, Duong Quoc Hoang (Hoang Sao) once again demonstrated his role as the leader of Vietnamese billiards. He kept hope alive with two crucial set victories.

In the fourth set, despite trailing 0-3, Duong Quoc Hoang calmly staged a spectacular comeback, defeating Albin Ouschan 4-3 to force a decisive final set. The composure and experience of Vietnam's top cueist helped drag the match into a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

Earlier, in the third set, Albin Ouschan had a chance to seal the match with only three relatively straightforward balls remaining on the table. However, a mishandled shot on the 8-ball by the Austrian player gave Hoang Sao an opportunity, opening the door for the Vietnamese team to turn the tide.

As the penalty shootout commenced, psychological pressure reached its peak. Albin Ouschan took the first shot for Austria and executed it flawlessly. For Vietnam, Pham Phuong Nam was tasked with the opening shot but was unsuccessful.

Although Mario He from the Austrian side also missed his subsequent attempt, the Vietnamese team could not capitalize on the chance to recover. The psychological strain caused the players in red to lose the necessary precision at the decisive moment, leading to the final 2-3 defeat.

The Predator WPA Teams 10-Ball World Championship 2026 took place in Las Vegas (USA), featuring 24 national teams with a total prize pool of $300,000. The tournament used the 10-Ball format, played in a set system (race to 4, break-and-run).

Each team consisted of 3-5 athletes, with 3 players competing per match: 2 same-gender players and 1 mixed-gender player. A match structure included: Set 1 (Team): 3 players rotating shots, race to 4; Set 2 (Same-gender doubles): race to 4; Set 3 (Mixed-gender doubles): race to 4; Set 4 (Singles, if needed): for players not featured in Sets 2 and 3; Set 5: penalty shootout if teams are tied.

This format demands not only exceptional individual skill but also strategic calculation, seamless coordination, and flexible adaptability at every stage.

Despite the exit, the Vietnamese team's performance against a powerhouse like Austria shows the gap is gradually narrowing. With the resilience of key players and experience gained from international competitions, Vietnamese billiards can genuinely hope for further progress in the future.