Vietnamese cueists unanimously halt competition due to image of 'nine-dash line'

The Vietnamese sports community is paying special attention to the firm decision of many leading cueists who opted to cease participation immediately from day one, following the detection of a sovereignty-violating "nine-dash line" image at a global tournament.

Specifically, cueists Duong Quoc Hoang (Hoang Sao), Nguyen Anh Tuan, and Le Quang Trung collectively made the immediate decision to withdraw from the tournament. Notably, Duong Quoc Hoang acted earliest by refusing to compete even though his opening match had not yet taken place.

According to reports, the cause stems from an organizing unit at the tournament held in China using a logo that incorporated the image of the "nine-dash line." This detail constitutes a serious violation of Vietnam's territorial sovereignty, prompting the cueists to decisively withdraw without hesitation, despite sacrificing their chance to compete, titles, and prize money.

Previously, on September 23, 2023, Vietnam's top cueist Tran Quyet Chien also took similar action at a friendly event organized in Shanghai.

The event gathered many prominent names in the world billiards community such as Dick Jaspers, Tayfun Tasdemir, and Cho Myung Woo. During the match between Tran Quyet Chien and Dick Jaspers, a map containing the "nine-dash line" appeared on the live broadcast.

Immediately after the match, Tran Quyet Chien consulted with the sport's leadership and decided to withdraw from the event, returning to Vietnam that same evening.

The successive strong reactions of many Vietnamese cueists against sovereignty-violating elements are not merely personal decisions but also clearly demonstrate a stance and national spirit in sports.