2026 National 3-Cushion Billiards Championship: New Record from Young Player

On the morning of August 15, 2026, at Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, the 2026 National 3-Cushion Billiards Championship concluded after five days of competition. The biggest highlight came from 22-year-old cueist Le Minh Quan, who surprisingly defeated defending champion Nguyen Duc Anh with a score of 50-36 in the final, while setting a new record for average points per inning (series average) of 2.14. This is the first time in the history of the national competition that a player under 25 has reached the 2.0 mark. According to statistics from the organizing committee, Le Minh Quan had 4 series of over 10 points, including 2 series of 12, surpassing Nguyen Duc Anh's performance (3 series over 10, highest 11). "The number 2.14 is not just a number; it reflects a change in the tactical approach to 3-cushion carom in Vietnam - from defensive to proactive attacking," commented Mr. Tran Van Hung, Head of the Referee Board. Historically, only two Vietnamese players have achieved a series average above 2.0 in international tournaments: Tran Quyet Chien (2.08 at 2026 World Cup) and Nguyen Duc Anh (2.02 at 2026 Asian Championship). Le Minh Quan is currently not on the national team, but with this performance, his chances of being called up in September are very high. This year's tournament featured 64 players, a 12% increase from 2026, with 18 players under 30, indicating a strong youth movement. The total prize fund reached 800 million VND, an increase of 100 million from the previous year. The main sponsor is the Thong Nhat billiard table brand. The event also attracted over 500 live spectators per day, according to organizing committee estimates. Le Minh Quan shared after his victory: "I focused on reading the path early, not afraid to hit hard, because I knew I could maintain accuracy after three cushions. Vinh Xuan taught me that." He alluded to the coaching method of HLV Vinh Xuan, who has trained many young players in the Mekong Delta. Opponent Nguyen Duc Anh admitted: "He played too well; I never had a real chance to turn the game into defense. At the 10th contact, I saw him smile, and I knew I had lost." Experts describe Le Minh Quan's playing style as "total offence" - he often chooses long paths, taking advantage of dead corners to create series. Statistics from VBA (Vietnam Billiards Association) match tracking software show that 68% of his points came from direct attacks, only 32% from defense. This contrasts with the average 45% attack rate of other players. These data were confirmed by VBA and released for the first time at the tournament. The semifinal between Le Minh Quan and veteran 38-year-old Pham Thanh Tung also drew attention as Quan won 50-40 with a series average of 1.98, including one 15-point shot - the highest series of the tournament. Pham Thanh Tung said after the match: "I used to think Vietnamese carom still needed the old generation to lead. Today I see I am outdated." The event also saw the return of Vietnam's number 1 female player Nguyen Thi Hong (world No. 18) in the libre event; she reached the semifinals but lost to 17-year-old Tran Thi Mai. However, the 3-cushion carom event remained the main focus. According to plan, VBA will officially announce the national team for the World Cup 3 Cushion in Cairo, Egypt, in October. If Le Minh Quan is selected, he will be the youngest player on the squad. "Potential is there, but he needs more international experience - the pressure is very different from domestic competitions," said Mr. Tran Quoc Trung, VBA Vice President. In the final, the stands were packed with about 800 people, according to security estimates. Some fans jokingly called Le Minh Quan "Minh Quan the fast" due to his quick striking speed - averaging 12 seconds per shot, while the tournament average is 18-20 seconds. He said he trained with a metronome to improve reflexes. Technically, experts analyze that Quan's ability to read the third cushion is superior: when the cue ball hits the second cushion, he has already calculated the landing point, thus reducing error. The Billiards Plus fan page posted a graphic analyzing his paths and received over 10,000 interactions. Another factor is physical fitness: Le Minh Quan participated in a 3-month physical training program with coach Nguyen Hoang Anh (former track and field athlete) before the tournament, helping him maintain stability during long rallies. He said: "I don't want to lose concentration due to fatigue. Every stroke must be the same from start to finish." This year's tournament also experienced a technical glitch: the electronic scoring system malfunctioned during the quarterfinal between Nguyen Van Dung and Tran Van Nam, forcing the referee to intervene manually. VBA promised to upgrade the system before the 2027 season. In summary, the 2026 national 3-cushion carom championship ended with many highlights: Le Minh Quan's personal record, a youth movement, and a desire to reach the world stage. As one elderly fan in the stands said: "I've watched billiards since Tran Van Tu's time, never seen such a scene. It reminds me of the Korean billiards craze in the 2000s." If Le Minh Quan continues to develop, Vietnam can fully hope for a spot in the top 10 world 3-cushion carom rankings within three years.