After qualifying rounds, the Predator WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship narrowed the field from 96 to 32 players for the knockout stage. Each match consists of a best-of-five sets format, with each set requiring 4 games to win.
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Quoc Hoang (right) during his match against Filler in the round of 32 of the Predator WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship 2025, on the evening of 25/9. Photo: Duc Dong |
Duong Quoc Hoang, the sole remaining Vietnamese competitor, faced strong contender Joshua Filler. The German player, ranked second globally in pool, won the 9-ball world championship in 2018 at 21 and recently triumphed at the 2025 European Open. Days earlier, he and his wife, Pia Filler, won the Box Billiards Mixed Doubles Open, earning 40,000 USD.
Despite playing before a home crowd at the Military Zone 7 Stadium, Hoang started slowly, making errors and losing the first set 1-4.
In the second set, Hoang regained composure, demonstrating smooth shot control and precise table clearing. Filler's errors contributed to Hoang's 4-2 win, leveling the match at 1-1.
Despite the momentum shift, Hoang struggled with his break shots, while Filler's experience allowed him to win the third set 4-1, taking a 2-1 lead.
With Filler gaining control, Hoang showcased his world-class skills, pushing the fourth set to a 3-3 tie. Despite having a winning opportunity, Hoang missed the 2 ball, giving Filler control.
Filler cleared the table to the 9 ball. Hoang seemed resigned to defeat, but Filler missed the 9 ball. Hoang seized the opportunity, winning the fourth set 4-2 and tying the match 2-2, forcing a decisive fifth set.
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Duong Quoc Hoang appeared to accept defeat against Joshua Filler in the round of 32 of the Predator WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship 2025, on the evening of 25/9. Photo: Duc Dong |
Energized by the turn of events, the 38-year-old Hoang played flawlessly in the fifth set, fueled by the home crowd's support. He won 4-1, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory.
After potting the 10 ball, a triumphant Hoang raised his cue to the cheering fans. Filler congratulated his opponent. In the stands, Pia Filler quietly departed amidst the Vietnamese crowd's celebration.
Hoang will face Aloysius Yapp in the round of 16, a Singaporean player currently on a winning streak with two consecutive 9-ball titles in the US.
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Duong Quoc Hoang capitalized on his opponent's mistake to win 3-2 against Joshua Filler in the round of 32 of the Predator WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship 2025, on the evening of 25/9. Photo: Duc Dong |
Other players advancing to the round of 16 include: Jonas Magpantay (Philippines), Ko Ping Yi (Taiwan), Mark Estiola (Philippines), Jonas Souto (Spain), Oliver Szolnoki (Hungary), Ko Ping Chung (Taiwan), Daniel Macioł (Poland), Aloysius Yapp (Singapore), Taeyong Ko (South Korea), Shane Van Boening (US), Wojciech Szewczyk (Poland), Marco Teutscher (Netherlands), and Alex Kazakis (Greece).
The round of 16 matches are scheduled for 11:00 on 26/9, followed by the quarterfinals at 16:00 the same day.
The Poison Cues Saigon Women’s 9-Ball Open also held its semifinals: Carmille Buhat versus Rubilen Amit (Philippines) and Han Yu (China) versus Tzu-Chien Wei (Taiwan).
The Predator WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship, Box Billiards Mixed Doubles, and Poison Cues Saigon Women’s 9-Ball Open are co-hosted by Box Billiards, Predator, and the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards & Snooker Federation (HBSF) at the Military Zone 7 Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City from 17/9 to 28/9. The total prize money for the series is 425,000 USD (approximately 11.2 billion VND), with the men's 10-ball championship offering 250,000 USD (nearly 7 billion VND). The winner will receive 70,000 USD (1.8 billion VND), the runner-up 40,000 USD, and the two third-place finishers 17,500 USD each. In the Box Billiards Mixed Doubles Open, which concluded on the evening of 19/9, Joshua Filler and Pia Filler won the championship and 40,000 USD. The Taiwanese pair Ko Ping Chung and Chou Chieh-yu finished second. |
Duc Dong
