In superb form, Duong Quoc Hoang defeated Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain 7-4 in the final of Premier League Pool 2026 to lift the championship trophy.

The highly anticipated final between Duong Quoc Hoang and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz delivered thrilling exchanges. The Vietnamese cueist maintained confidence and composure, winning the first three racks in a row before extending his lead to 5-2 and then 6-2. His shot-making was sharp and precise, leaving his opponent momentarily stunned.

In the seventh rack, despite an awkward situation involving a cluster, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz drew on his experience to claim the rack and narrow the score to 3-6.

Although holding a comfortable advantage, Duong Quoc Hoang remained cautious. An unexpected twist occurred in the eighth rack when “Hoang Sao” appeared set to finish the match but rattled the final ball in the pocket, allowing his opponent to reduce the deficit to 4-6.

In the ninth rack, facing a similar opportunity to close out the contest, Quoc Hoang made no mistake. He calmly pocketed the 9-ball into the middle pocket to seal a 7-4 victory and a fully deserved title.

Prior to reaching the final, Duong Quoc Hoang had displayed outstanding form, edging past Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 5-4, defeating Eklent Kaci 5-3, overcoming Chris Melling 5-2 and beating Albert Januarta 5-1 to finish among the top four players. It marked the first time in history that a Vietnamese cueist advanced to the semifinals of Premier League Pool.

In the semifinal round, Vietnam’s top-ranked player prevailed in a nail-biting 7-6 win over 18-year-old Albert Januarta of Indonesia to secure his place in the final against Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.

Premier League Pool 2026 featured 16 of the world’s leading players and was held in Florida, the US, from February 19 to 23, with a round-robin stage followed by knockout rounds. With the championship victory, Duong Quoc Hoang pocketed US$25,000 in prize money. He is also the first Vietnamese and Asian player to win this prestigious tournament.

“I’m extremely happy, truly overjoyed. Thank you everyone,” Duong Quoc Hoang shared after being crowned champion.

Dai Nam