Renowned coach Nguyen Thanh Nam - nicknamed "the coach of champions" - has made a high-profile return to the Vietnamese billiards scene, marking his comeback with participation in major events and a renewed commitment to developing the next generation of talent.

After a long period of focusing exclusively on coaching, Nguyen Thanh Nam, one of Vietnam’s most respected figures in billiards, is back in competitive play.

The former head coach of the national billiards team will reenter the arena at the second qualifying round of the 2025 World 10-Ball Pool Championship, held from May 15 to 19 in Hanoi.

In addition to his return as a player, Nam is also taking on a key mentorship role. Alongside rising star An Nhiet, Nam is directly coaching and training the eight best players from the final round of the 2025 Northern Vietnam Club 9-Ball Championship - Sting x VBSF Cup. This elite group will participate in a specialized professional training program for 9-Ball pool.

Organized by the Vietnam Billiards & Snooker Federation (VBSF), this championship is the largest amateur 9-Ball event in Vietnam’s history. Spanning three months, the competition is expected to draw nearly 1,000 players.

Beginning mid-May, players will compete across 24 of the most prestigious billiards clubs in Hanoi and Hai Phong. From these matches, 48 standout players will advance to the final round, which will take place from August 1 to 3 in Hanoi.

The tournament boasts a total prize pool of 350 million VND (approximately 13,800 USD), with the champion of the final round taking home 50 million VND (about 1,970 USD).

Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice President of VBSF, emphasized that the federation aims to use this competition as a foundation for a widespread amateur playing system. The goal is to nurture emerging talent and elevate Vietnamese billiards to regional and global prominence.

Yen Nhi