Looks like the inevitable has happened. Unless Antonakis hoists the trophy, somebody will win the Hanoi Open without having to meet any of SVB, Filler, Gorst, Ko Pin Yi, Ko Ping Chung or FSR in Stage 2. For all the Cinderellas out there, this is your big chance, even though some superstars are still in the draw.
Nonetheless, some great pool is on display and a very deserving champion will be crowned this weekend. It's not easy to pick a winner, but Yapp, who has likely already wrapped up 2025 player of the year, is certainly in with a chance to make it four WNT majors in a row, and what a story that would be.
I'm intrigued by the fact that we may see Shaw vs Lechner in the round of 16. They've had a good rivalry this year, with Max prevailing in Stage 2 at the Florida Open but Shaw getting his revenge in Stage 2 of the US Open 9ball. They seem to produce great matches.
Perhaps this event is best interpreted as a reminder of how deep the Asian talent pool really is and how far the Vietnamese players have come as cueists. Count me among those who has never heard of Dinh Chan Kiet, yet he has beaten Anton Raga and Jeff Roda back-to-back to reach Day 5. If anyone out there knows anything about him, please do share.
Those who said that the Hanoi Open would be an amazing event despite the absence of some of pool's biggest names have been proven 100% right. I'm doing my best to navigate the eleven-hour time difference between Hanoi and New York City, but I'll find a way to watch as much as possible.
Good luck to all the fine players that remain. As Earl Strickland would say, "this is going to be epic." Matchroom strikes again with a breathtaking WNT major.
