In a list compiled by Dr. Dave Billiards, a YouTube channel with over 300,000 subscribers, 25 shots were selected as the best ever. Topping the list is Efren "Bata" Reyes's iconic "Z-shot" from 30 years ago. Vietnam's sole representative on the list is Luong Chi Dung, for a shot he made in the round of 32 at the World 9-Ball Championship 19 years ago in the Philippines.

Born in 1985, Luong Chi Dung won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in 2005. A year later, he reached the quarterfinals of the World 9-Ball Championship in Pasay City, Philippines. It remains one of the best achievements by a Vietnamese billiards player to date. On his way to the quarterfinals, Dung defeated Hungarian player Vilmos Foldes in the round of 32. Their 13th game is now considered a classic.

Billiards player Luong Chi Dung. Photo: Akira Takata

Billiards player Luong Chi Dung. Photo: Akira Takata

Foldes broke, but no balls were pocketed, giving Dung the next turn. Both players tried to hide the cue ball behind the 1-ball, until Foldes succeeded in placing it behind the 2, 5, and 7 balls. The Vietnamese player had no way to legally hit the 1-ball, so he intentionally committed a foul.

In 9-ball, a player forfeits the game after three consecutive fouls without a legal shot in between. After the second foul, the opponent or the referee must warn the player that another foul will result in a loss.

Foldes then attempted a "snooker," intentionally committing a foul to prevent Dung from making a legal shot in his next two turns. The Hungarian player added the 6-ball to the cluster, trapping the 1-ball among the 2, 5, 6, and 7 balls.

Dung was forced to commit his second foul, hitting the 5 and 6 balls away to create a path to the 1-ball for his next shot. The referee held up two fingers, signaling Dung's second consecutive foul. Even so, Dung's move was praised. "Smart choice," the ESPN commentator remarked.

However, Foldes took it a step further. In his next shot, he added the 9-ball to the cluster, trapping the 1-ball again among the 2, 7, and 9 balls. There was no way for the cue ball to reach the 1-ball by rolling on the table. "Foldes does it again, and he's successful," the commentator added.

According to the commentators, such snookers are not uncommon in 9-ball. Dung's only option was to place the cue ball near a corner pocket and execute a jump shot, aiming to hit the 1-ball directly. At the world championship level, all players possess jump shot skills. However, in this scenario, precise force was required to hit the 1-ball and not the surrounding balls. "The referee will have to be very focused to see which ball the cue ball touches first," the commentator noted.

Dung did exactly as the commentator predicted, executing the jump shot perfectly and hitting the 1-ball cleanly, avoiding a third consecutive foul. The audience erupted in applause.

"This game is like a billiards exhibition. I'm loving this. I've commentated on many matches, but I've never seen anything like this on TV," the commentator exclaimed. "The audience is thrilled. It's unbelievable how these two young men know how to put on a show. People will be talking about this game for a long time."

The next shot was straightforward, allowing Foldes to clear the table and win the game. However, in the following game, Dung scored the decisive point, securing a 10-4 victory. He then eliminated Jeff de Luna in the round of 16 before losing to Chinese player Li Hewen in the quarterfinals.

Although Dung ultimately lost the game, he and Foldes created a memorable moment on the world stage. Even today, whenever similar snookers and escapes occur in 9-ball, experts recall the match between the Vietnamese and Hungarian players.

Xuan Binh