The finals took place simultaneously on two tables. While Tran Quyet Chien faced veteran and considered his "nemesis" Martin Horn, Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu competed against Amir Ibraimov.
In the first match, Tran Quyet Chien faced German veteran Martin Horn in a rematch of their group-stage encounter, where the two teams had drawn. The Vietnamese cueist started strongly and built an early lead. However, Horn responded with a 12-point run in the 12th inning to narrow the gap to 17–19, then surged ahead 23–19 with a 6-point run in the 13th inning before the break.
After halftime, Tran Quyet Chien demonstrated his class and composure. He leveled the score at 26–26 with a 6-point run in the 15th inning, then produced a decisive 11-point run in the 17th inning to seal a convincing 40–30 victory after just 17 innings.
In the second match, Thanh Tu dominated his opponent in the early stages. With the score at 39-28 and only one point remaining, the Vietnamese player failed to convert, allowing his opponent to take a five-point lead. However, when a chance arose from a missed shot by the German player, the 2025 national champion executed a precise shot, closing out the match with a 40-33 victory.
This marks Vietnam’s second world team title, following the 2024 triumph of Tran Quyet Chien and Bảo Phương Vinh. The outstanding performance of the Tran Quyet Chien – Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu duo once again reaffirmed Vietnam’s position at the pinnacle of the 3-cushion billiards world.
The 2026 World Team 3-Cushion Carom Billiards Championship will take place from February 26th to March 1st in Viersen, Germany. A total of 16 teams will compete. Tran Quyet Chien is participating in the tournament thanks to his highest score in the national system, while Thanh Tu is the reigning national champion.
Nguyen Khang