Defending champion Johann Chua continued his title defence with a crucial victory on day two, joining World No.1 Fedor Gorst, World Champion Carlo Biado, former Hanoi Open winner Jayson Shaw, and Vietnam’s own Duong Quoc Hoang in securing their places in the Last 64.
The 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship — the third edition of this prestigious Matchroom Major on the World Nineball Tour — takes place at the Vietnam National Sports Complex in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 8–12 October.
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Chua battled past fellow Filipino Jaycee Cordova Garcia, grinding out a 9–5 victory to book his place in the single-elimination stage as he continues his quest to defend the crown he lifted twelve months ago.
Chua Commented: “It was a tough battle against Jaycee — he’s a great player. I’m happy to make my way through to the Last 64 again, but I still need to work on my game if I want to keep my crown. Tomorrow it’s knockout play, so the pressure’s on. I can’t afford mistakes; I need to stay focused and sharp from the very first rack.”
World No.1 Fedor Gorst maintained his impressive momentum in Hanoi, overcoming Filipino challenger Tristan Deocareza 9–4 to return to the Last 64. After two strong days, Gorst looks poised to mount a serious challenge for his first Hanoi title.
Gorst reflected: “I felt like that was the best match I’ve played in the last two years. The score doesn’t show it, but my opponent really pushed me and made me dig deep. Today the break worked well, and a few rolls went my way. If I can keep this level, I know I can make a deep run. I want to show Vietnam that I’ve got what it takes to finally win here.”
Former champion Jayson Shaw continued his dominant form with another clinical performance, dispatching Boris Ivanovski 9–2 to progress in style. The Brit has now dropped just three racks across his opening three matches.
Shaw said: “I’m happy with the quick win to make it into the Last 64 again. I said yesterday that my game feels solid this week, and today proved that. I’ve only lost three racks so far, so if I can keep this up, I’ll be right there fighting for that Hanoi crown again.”
Vietnam’s leading hope Duong Quoc Hoang delighted the home crowd with a statement performance, producing a ruthless whitewash over his World Cup of Pool teammate Nguyen Ang Tuan to storm into the Last 64. The win keeps alive his dream of becoming the first-ever Vietnamese player to lift a Matchroom Major title.
Duong said: “Today I played really well — I had prepared carefully before the match and felt great throughout. Honestly, my performance today was more than satisfying. I have to thank my fans for their incredible support — they push me to give my best every time. If I were to win this tournament, it wouldn’t just be for me; it would be for my country.”
Reigning World Champion Carlo Biado, a semi-finalist in Hanoi last year, looked composed and confident as he eased past Nguyen Hoang Phong 9–2, continuing his pursuit of redemption after narrowly missing out on the title in 2024.
Biado commented: “It feels great to be back in the Last 64. I was gutted not to win the tournament last year, so this time I want to redeem myself. Hanoi holds a special place in my heart — the fans, the atmosphere, everything. To finish the job I almost finished last year and lift the trophy here would mean a lot.”
As the field narrows, the stakes rise, with the Last 64 confirmed for tomorrow as players enter the single-elimination stage. Every rack, every break, and every shot now counts as the race for the Hanoi Open crown truly begins.
Don’t miss your chance to witness world-class nineball in the heart of Southeast Asia — secure your tickets now.
Fans can follow the full draw and live rack-by-rack scoring at www.wntlivescores.com, with coverage shown on WNT TV internationally, and in Vietnam via the Vietnam Billiards Promotion YouTube Channel and VTVcab.
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