MANSION SPORTS HANOI OPEN | JOHANN CHUA CROWNED KING OF HANOI

Johann Chua has been crowned the 2024 Mansion Sports Hanoi Open Pool Champion, triumphing over the 'Filipino Slayer,' Ko Pin Yi, in a thrilling final at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium, set in the vibrant city of Hanoi.

Nerves were apparent from the start, as both Ko Pin Yi and Johann Chua struggled to settle into their rhythm. Despite missing the 3-ball and 7-ball early on, Ko redeemed himself with a crucial safety to claim the first rack.

After a shaky start, Chua quickly found his form in the second rack, seizing control after Ko left the 6-ball hanging for an easy sweep. This sparked Chua’s momentum, and "Bad Koi" went on to string together four consecutive racks, showcasing his sharp safety play and precise jump shots.

A dry break in the sixth rack allowed Ko back to the table, where he fluked a 1-9 combo to cut Chua's lead. Ko then tried to keep the pressure on by hooking Chua on the 5-ball, but Chua responded with a fierce jump shot, regaining control and extending his lead to 7-2.The tenth rack saw a shift when Chua hooked himself on the 2-ball, giving Ko a chance to claim two racks in a row. However, Ko’s attempt to close the gap faltered in the twelfth rack when he scratched on the 3-ball, handing Chua another rack.

A miss on the 2-ball in the thirteenth rack seemed to turn the tide in Ko’s favor as he narrowed the deficit further, pulling off a 3-9 combo to bring the score to 8-7. Just one rack away from levelling the match, Ko fouled on the 2-ball in the next rack, giving Chua breathing room to extend his lead to 9-7.

Despite Ko’s effort to close the gap again after Chua missed the 6-ball, he missed a crucial 9-ball that could have brought him back into contention. Chua capitalised, reaching the hill at 10-7.

With the final break, Chua cleared the table once more, securing the final rack and his first Matchroom Major title. His triumph in Hanoi not only crowns him the new king of Hanoi, but also completes a remarkable journey—from the World Championship semifinals to the European Open final, and now the prestigious Hanoi Open title and Reyes Cup qualification. Johann Chua has undoubtedly enjoyed one of the best runs on the World Nineball Tour this year.