Quoc Hoang made an impressive entry into the knockout stage, leading Maciol 5-0 with remarkable combination and jump shots. After his Polish opponent scored his first point off Quoc Hoang's break, the Vietnamese representative won the next four games to seal a 9-1 victory.
This was one of the most decisive scores of the round, made even more impressive given Maciol's victory at the World Cup 10-ball championship in Qatar last year. "Quoc Hoang was phenomenal," Matchroom Pool commented. "His superb performance against Maciol secured his spot in the single-elimination stage."
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Quoc Hoang during his first-round match at the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 22/7/2025. Photo: Matchroom |
Quoc Hoang during his first-round match at the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 22/7/2025. Photo: Matchroom
Maciol is currently ranked 46th in the world, 20 places below Quoc Hoang. However, the 38-year-old player demonstrated superior skill. Even with challenging long shots, he confidently pocketed the balls. This is Quoc Hoang's second time reaching the knockout stage of the World Pool Championship, having previously advanced to the quarterfinals in 2023.
Shortly after Quoc Hoang's win, Luong Duc Thien also shone, narrowly defeating Denis Grabe 9-8. This was Thien's second consecutive close victory, having defeated former champion Shane Van Boening in the first round. This is also Thien's second appearance in the knockout stage, after his 2023 run that ended in the round of 64.
The third Vietnamese player to advance to the knockout stage was Nguyen Anh Tuan, who defeated Henry Nguyen (Australia) 9-2 in the second round. Tuan had previously won against Pijus Labutis 9-8 in the first round.
The remaining Vietnamese competitor, Bui Truong An, will compete for a spot in the knockout stage against Ha Min-ug at 11:30 PM Hanoi time today.
The World Pool Championship is the biggest tournament in pool billiards, boasting a $1 million prize pool and attracting 128 top players. This year's tournament is being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 21/7 to 26/7. It follows a double-elimination format, with 64 players advancing to the single-elimination stage.
The single-elimination stage, consisting of the round of 64 and round of 32, begins tomorrow, 24/7.
Xuan Binh
