On 26/4, three top Vietnamese pool players – Duong Quoc Hoang, Nguyen Anh Tuan, and Le Quang Trung – collectively decided to withdraw from the Peri Laili Cup 2026, which was taking place in Hainan, Trung Quoc.

The reason for their withdrawal was the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) using a map logo depicting China with the "nine-dash line" and including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. This action infringes upon Vietnam's sovereignty over these two archipelagos, as well as its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime areas defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Billiards players Nguyen Anh Tuan and Le Quang Trung. Photo: Peri Team Vietnam

Upon returning to Vietnam, player Quang Trung stated that ignoring unusual signs related to sovereignty is unacceptable for Vietnamese people. He shared, "I can sacrifice my effort and energy, but I cannot abandon the self-respect of a Vietnamese person. Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam."

Similarly, player Nguyen Anh Tuan expressed frustration about leaving the tournament early in Trung Quoc, but affirmed that national sovereignty and pride are paramount. Anh Tuan asserted, "Passion is passion, but it cannot be compared with or stand alongside national issues."

Born in 1982, Quang Trung is an experienced Vietnamese pool player, known by his nickname "Trung 'The Deaf'". This moniker highlights his intense focus, making him impervious to external distractions once he steps to the table. He won the national 8-ball championship in 2014 and recently claimed the 10-ball title at the 2025 National Billiards & Snooker Championship.

Anh Tuan, also known as Tkon, is a top Vietnamese 9-ball pool player, renowned for his skillful cue handling and international prowess. He was a national champion in 2018 and 2022, and has defeated world-class players like Albin Ouschan. In 2024, he was the sole Vietnamese player invited to the Premier League pool, competing alongside 15 other top players globally.

Peri Team Vietnam, the club managing Anh Tuan and Quang Trung, stated that despite the athletes investing significant time and money to participate, all three players immediately decided to withdraw without hesitation upon discovering the issue. The team affirmed, "Although we strongly desire achievements and earnings, we love our country more. We will not participate in any tournament, no matter how large the prize, if a map affecting Vietnam's sovereignty appears."

The decision by Quoc Hoang, Anh Tuan, and Quang Trung to withdraw received widespread support within the Vietnamese billiards community. This incident draws parallels to a similar action by player Tran Quyet Chien in 2023. During a tournament in Shanghai, Trung Quoc, the Vietnamese 3-cushion carom star withdrew when a live broadcast of his exhibition match against Dick Jaspers displayed a map of Trung Quoc with the "nine-dash line".

Da Nang-based player Nguyen Bich Tram shared on her personal Facebook page, "Following our seniors, now and in the future, we will always emulate them and prioritize national pride, because every battle is steeped in the colors of our flag, for which our ancestors shed so much blood and bone."

The "nine-dash line", also known as the "cow's tongue line", is a self-proclaimed boundary by Trung Quoc asserting sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, despite international opposition. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) rejected Trung Quoc's claims, declaring that the country has no legal basis to claim historical rights to resources within the "nine-dash line".

Dong Huyen