Nguyen Phuc Thinh wins 2026 Asian 3-Cushion Billiards Championship after thrilling 50-49 victory

On the evening of August 14, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam's number one billiards player Nguyen Phuc Thinh made history by winning the 2026 Asian 3-Cushion Billiards Championship. In a tense final that lasted three hours, he defeated South Korean Cho Myung-woo 50-49 after a deciding point. This is Thinh's first Asian title and also the first time a Vietnamese player has reached the top of the continent in the carom 3-cushion discipline. Nguyen Phuc Thinh, 28, from Ho Chi Minh City, started playing billiards at age 14. En route to the final, he overcame strong opponents from Turkey, the Netherlands, and Japan. In the semifinal, Thinh won 50-41 against Dutch veteran Dick Jaspers, a legend of the sport. After the match, Thinh said: "I concentrated highly and maintained my composure with every shot. This victory is the result of years of hard training." Technically, Thinh impressed with precise cue-ball control and clever defensive tactics. Statistics show he averaged a scoring rate of 1.800 in the tournament, second among all participants, only behind runner-up Cho Myung-woo. His highest average was achieved in the quarterfinal against a Japanese opponent, with 2.100. These numbers reflect his stable form and effective position play. According to sports analysts, Thinh's success stems not only from technique but also from a huge improvement in emotional management. Two years ago, at the 31st SEA Games, he lost a heartbreaking final despite leading 40-30. That lesson helped him mature. "I learned to accept pressure and turn it into motivation," Thinh added. After this historic victory, Vietnam's billiards community erupted in joy. Nguyen Minh Duc, President of the Vietnam Billiards Federation, called it a "golden milestone" for the country's sports. Many fans took to the streets to celebrate in front of the Federation's headquarters in Hanoi. On sports forums, posts about Thinh's victory quickly received tens of thousands of likes. However, some voices urged caution. Former player Tran Quoc Dung commented: "We are happy, but we must remember that Asian 3-cushion carom is getting increasingly competitive. To maintain a high level, we need more systematic investment in youth training." Indeed, in the world rankings, Vietnam currently has only two players in the top 50. For his part, Nguyen Phuc Thinh has set his next goal: to enter the world top 10 and win a World Cup medal. He also hopes to inspire the younger generation in Vietnam to pursue the sport. "I want to prove that Vietnamese can compete fairly with other billiards powers," he said. Thinh's success comes amid notable progress in Vietnamese billiards. In 2026, the national team won two SEA Games gold medals. The number of billiards clubs in major cities increased 15% year-on-year. Sponsors have also begun to pay more attention; a personal sponsorship contract worth 2 billion VND was signed for Thinh. But for sustainable development, experts believe that infrastructure and coach quality need improvement. Currently, Vietnam only has one international-standard billiards training center in Hanoi. Many young talents in remote provinces still lack training conditions. Additionally, financial support policies are needed to help players focus on competition. Within this tournament, besides Thinh's championship, young player Nguyen Van Hung also impressed by reaching the quarterfinals. Hung, only 19, is seen as the future of Vietnamese billiards. This shows that a young talent pool is taking shape. Nguyen Phuc Thinh was born in 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. He turned professional in 2026. To date, he has won 15 domestic and international titles. His previous best results were a silver medal at the 2026 SEA Games and a bronze at the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship. Prize information: The Asian Billiards Federation awarded USD 20,000 to the champion, roughly VND 500 million. In addition, Thinh received an additional VND 1 billion in bonuses from sponsors and local authorities. At the award ceremony, Park Sung-min, President of the Asian Billiards Federation, praised Thinh's performance: "Nguyen Phuc Thinh's victory not only means a lot to Vietnam but also demonstrates the development of Asian billiards." With this success, Vietnamese billiards stands at a golden opportunity to reach out to the world. But to turn the opportunity into long-term reality, more investment and the right strategy are needed. Nguyen Phuc Thinh has opened the door, but many challenges still lie ahead.