Now in its second year, the prestigious event features a prize pool of VND5 billion ($200,000) and brings together 256 players, including 128 ranked in the World Nineball Tour's top rankings.

Among the top players competing are defending champion Jayson Shaw, Fedor Gorst - the first player in history to win the Grand Slam by securing titles in the US Open, World Pool Championship, and World Pool Masters in 2024 - and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, the 2024 Peri Open champion.

Other notable participants include former world champion Shane Van Boening, who holds a record five US Open titles, European Open champion Mickey Krause, UK Open champion Robbie Capito, former World Pool Masters and US Open champions Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chung, Mosconi Cup Team USA captain Skyler Woodward, and former world champion Carlo Biado.

Representing the host nation, Vietnam’s number one player, Duong Quoc Hoang, the 2024 Scottish Open champion, is making his debut in the tournament. Other standout Vietnamese players include Do The Kien, Luong Duc Thien, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Dang Thanh Kien, Bui Truong An, and Ta Van Linh.

Ahead of the competition, defending champion Jayson Shaw expressed his desire to face Duong Quoc Hoang in the final. Meanwhile, Hoang boldly declared, "I want to keep the Cup in Vietnam."

Dai Nam