Adding to the stakes will be a prize money purse of US$50,000 up for grabs this weekend and o­n each subsequent stop of the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour; Hong Kong (April 17-18), Taipei (May 7-9) and Manila (May 29-30). The main draw includes players from Asian 11 countries/ regions.

In the Singapore leg two weeks ago, Chinese Taipei’s Yang Ching Shun failed to defend his title and the title went to the Philippine legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, who has also crowned at the Philippines leg last year. The Magician beat his compatriot Warren Kiamco 11-4 in the final while Kiamco also set a tour record as he made the finals of his third consecutive tour leg.

Chen Huang Wu of Chinese Taipei celebrated his first overseas international tournament with a semifinal finish, and Alok Kumar from India also broke into the semifinal after his surprising run that saw him defeat pool hall giants Francisco Bustamante and Chao Fong Pang in consecutive rounds.

Heroes of the game like former world champions Reyes and Chao Fong-Pang (1993 & 2000) of Chinese Taipei will definitely be the players to beat in Vietnam. But these 9-ball giants will face up against the likes of Busan Asian Games 9-Ball bronze medallist and current world number nine Jeong Young Hwa of Korea; Asia’s number four Kuo Po Cheng; and a couple of two-time world youth champions, Hsia Hui Kai and Lu Hui Chan, all from Chinese Taipei. 

At this second leg of 2004, host Vietnam will be represented by Vu Trong Khai, Nguyen Phuc Long, Nguyen Thanh Nam and Nguyen Phuong Thao. The former three players are among Asia’s top 50.

For all information o­n the tour, please check out www.asian9-balltour.com. For the latest schedules and program information o­n ESPN STAR Sports, catch us o­n the net at www.espnstar.com.

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