The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, scheduled for November in Thailand, will not include Vietnamese billiards players due to a decision communicated to the Vietnam Billiards & Snooker Federation (VBSF). This decision stems from Vietnam’s unauthorized hosting of the Hanoi Open Pool Championship in October 2023, previously known as the Asian Open Pool Championship.
Despite warnings from the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS), the tournament was approved by Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports. Notably, this event is not recognized by the World Pool Association or the ACBS, as per VBSF’s statement.
In July 2023, the ACBS informed the VBSF of violations regarding the tournament’s name and the participation of players from multiple countries. The VBSF proposed name adjustments and reconsideration of the tournament’s licensing, but these suggestions were not implemented by the department.
Consequently, the ACBS decided to impose a suspension on the VBSF, effective before May 23, 2024. However, this punishment specifically targets pool and snooker categories, sparing the carom discipline. As a result, Vietnam remains eligible to host the 2024 World Three-Cushion Championship in Binh Thuan Province, as confirmed by the Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB), the governing body for carom billiard games.
Doan Tuan Anh, VBSF general secretary, affirmed that Vietnamese players like Tran Quyet Chien, Bao Phuong Vinh, and Tran Thanh Luc can continue participating in carom tournaments. Nonetheless, the VBSF is committed to reviewing and reorganizing its operations to align with the requirements of governing bodies.
