World Billiards Championship: Tran Quyet Chien is the number 1 seed, the legend returns

The 2025 Carom Billiards World Championship has confirmed all the players who will compete. Notably, the player considered a 'living legend' Torbjorn Blomdahl also returned from injury.

The World Championship is the most prestigious tournament in the tournament system of the World Carom Billiards Federation (UMB). The 2025 World Championship will take place in Belgium from October 14 to 18, bringing together 48 excellent players to compete. Of which, the reigning champion Cho Myung-woo (Korea) and the top 16 players on the world rankings (the version with points in national and continental tournaments) will automatically participate. In addition, players will also participate according to the quota of member federations: Europe has 13 quotas, America has 8 quotas, Asia has 5 quotas, Africa and the Middle East have 3 quotas. In addition, the organizing committee will award 2 wildcards to players from the host federation (Belgium).

Why were Tran Quyet Chien and Tran Thanh Luc chosen as the number 1 seeds?

Up to now, the 2025 World Championship has determined all 48 players participating. Vietnam has 5 representatives competing: Tran Quyet Chien, Tran Thanh Luc, Chiem Hong Thai, Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu and Bao Phuong Vinh. Of which, Quyet Chien, Thanh Luc and Hong Thai are 3 names in the top 16 on the rankings. Phuong Vinh and Thanh Tu are 2 representatives of Asia. Quyet Chien (ranked 4th) and Thanh Luc (ranked 6th) are in the number 1 seed group when arranging the tournament table.

Tran Quyet Chien is the number 1 seed at the 2025 World Championship.

PHOTO: UMB

As Thanh Nien reported, this tournament witnessed the return of Frederic Caudron. He participated as a player who received a special ticket from the host (Belgium). This is the first time the Belgian billiards genius has participated in the World Championship arena, since returning to UMB in May 2024. In the past, the player born in 1968 won the 3-cushion carom billiards world championship 3 times, in 1999, 2013 and 2017 respectively.

Watch Tran Quyet Chien's unbelievable series: More than 20 points/view

Legendary Blomdahl returns from injury

Besides Caudron, the 2025 World Championship promises to be more dramatic with the return of the legendary Torbjorn Blomdahl. Previously, the veteran Swedish player suffered an Achilles tendon injury in May, causing him to miss many important tournaments. The Swedish legend has recovered and is ready to return to the most prestigious arena. Accordingly, Blomdahl will participate as a representative of the European Billiards Federation.

Blomdahl was born in 1962 (63 years old), owns a huge record of achievements with 46 World Cup billiards titles and 7 world championships. He is considered one of the greatest players in history, a living legend of the world 3-cushion carom village. Age and injury may affect Blomdahl's performance, but the Swedish player's courage and extensive experience are always something that makes every opponent wary.

Blomdahl is the most successful player in the 3-cushion carom billiards world today.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Notable players also appearing at the 2025 World Championship include current world number 1 Dick Jaspers (Netherlands), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Marco Zanetti (Italy), Tasdemir Tayfun (Turkey), Sameh Sidhom (Egypt), Jeremy Bury (France), Heo Jung-han (Korea)...

The best achievement of Vietnamese billiards at the World Championship arena is the championship of Bao Phuong Vinh. The final match of the 2023 World Championship witnessed the internal competition between Vietnam between Bao Phuong Vinh and Tran Quyet Chien. Phuong Vinh, at that time, played with sublime form and defeated his experienced senior to win the championship. The 2023 World Championship trophy was also a major turning point, bringing the career of the Binh Duong player to a new page.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giai-billiards-vo-dich-the-gioi-tran-quyet-chien-la-hat-giong-so-1-huyen-thoai-tro-lai-185250910155806266.htm