WNT 2024 Hanoi Open (8-13 Oct), Winner $30K
- Thread starter spartan
- Start date
I understand some on this forum don’t like MR because they don’t think it plays nice. But to see the production quality, the professionalism, the made-for-TV approach, I can’t really get worked up.
MR is doing great things.
The crowd in Vietnam was the biggest I have ever seen. The fans were loud and enthusiastic. The stagecraft was excellent. Predator does some good stuff, but everything else is second class to Matchroom.
MR is doing great things.
The crowd in Vietnam was the biggest I have ever seen. The fans were loud and enthusiastic. The stagecraft was excellent. Predator does some good stuff, but everything else is second class to Matchroom.
Johann Chua is in my opinion the most scintillating pool player in the world.
I only started watching pool in late 2022, but I have become a big devotee. I’ve watched tons of live pool and hoards of older games recorded by Accustats and others. This week, I saw the entire quarters, semis and finals of the Hanoi Open, plus large chunks of the final 32 and final 16.
I first saw Chua in 2023 during the World Cup of Pool. Being new to pro pool, I had never heard of of him. But I saw every match the Philippines played, and he was magnificent. Simply magnificent. Best player, by far, among the world’s very best. HE even made James Aranas seem like a superstar.
I remember Jeremy Jones saying during the WC that Chua was a top 10, maybe top 5 player in the world, if he committed to the tour. I was skeptical, but it seems JJ was right.
Chua is unquestionably the best player in the Philippines and evidently Reyes has repeatedly said the same. This year we have seen why. After Gorst, Chua has been the best player in the world.
Chua is very aggressive and has all the shots. His power game is SVB level. And he can make shots and position leaves only a few others in the world can make - Shane, Gorst and perhaps Albin Ouschan, whose creativity is underrated because he doesn’t show it much.
He’s been knocking on the door this year. Glad he banged it down. He, and Gorst, are my two favorite players to watch.
I only started watching pool in late 2022, but I have become a big devotee. I’ve watched tons of live pool and hoards of older games recorded by Accustats and others. This week, I saw the entire quarters, semis and finals of the Hanoi Open, plus large chunks of the final 32 and final 16.
I first saw Chua in 2023 during the World Cup of Pool. Being new to pro pool, I had never heard of of him. But I saw every match the Philippines played, and he was magnificent. Simply magnificent. Best player, by far, among the world’s very best. HE even made James Aranas seem like a superstar.
I remember Jeremy Jones saying during the WC that Chua was a top 10, maybe top 5 player in the world, if he committed to the tour. I was skeptical, but it seems JJ was right.
Chua is unquestionably the best player in the Philippines and evidently Reyes has repeatedly said the same. This year we have seen why. After Gorst, Chua has been the best player in the world.
Chua is very aggressive and has all the shots. His power game is SVB level. And he can make shots and position leaves only a few others in the world can make - Shane, Gorst and perhaps Albin Ouschan, whose creativity is underrated because he doesn’t show it much.
He’s been knocking on the door this year. Glad he banged it down. He, and Gorst, are my two favorite players to watch.
Weird tournament in some ways. The heat? The crowd? The pressure? I dunno.
I saw lots of players fall apart inexplicably. Roda in the semis. Carlo Biado too. Ko was shaky in the finals as well.
SVB didnt fall apart vs. Vergara, but he should have won. Sky faded vs FSR.
Heck, even Chua was very shaky at the start of his match vs Jeffrey Ignacio in the quarters. But Ignacio was worse!
Seemed like a lot of break and runs relative to other MR events, though.
I saw lots of players fall apart inexplicably. Roda in the semis. Carlo Biado too. Ko was shaky in the finals as well.
SVB didnt fall apart vs. Vergara, but he should have won. Sky faded vs FSR.
Heck, even Chua was very shaky at the start of his match vs Jeffrey Ignacio in the quarters. But Ignacio was worse!
Seemed like a lot of break and runs relative to other MR events, though.
Some backstory on Vergara via MR commentators.
Evidently he’s been living in the United Arab Emirates the past five years. He doesn’t look at, but he’s 35 years old.
Before or after the World Championships in Saudi Arabia, he played a pair of challenge matches with Jayson Shaw.
Shaw won the first 15-14 and Vergara won the second 15-14. Apparently Vergara played SVB once or twice and won at least one of their matches.
Vergara is an top level shotmaker, but he plays a bit too fast and his safety game is merely B+. SVB had his chances, but he blew it.
Vergara made too many mistakes vs Roda.
Evidently he’s been living in the United Arab Emirates the past five years. He doesn’t look at, but he’s 35 years old.
Before or after the World Championships in Saudi Arabia, he played a pair of challenge matches with Jayson Shaw.
Shaw won the first 15-14 and Vergara won the second 15-14. Apparently Vergara played SVB once or twice and won at least one of their matches.
Vergara is an top level shotmaker, but he plays a bit too fast and his safety game is merely B+. SVB had his chances, but he blew it.
Vergara made too many mistakes vs Roda.
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I really like fedor , but favourite to watch? I dont think he is great to watch, too methodical. Much prefer to watch Filler,
Last thoughts: The Asian players were getting ready for the Reyes.
It all started with the Shaw-Ko match in the quarters. Jayson was up in the match most of the way and played to the crowd. He did a lot of gesturing like a Roman gladiator.
Lo and behold, Ko started doing the same when he came back in the match. Then the crowd started chanting his name!
I never, ever thought I would see Ko do that.
Much to my surprise, he did it again in the semis vs Roda. And both he and Chua egged on the crowd in the finals.
Never expected it from Chua either!
Something tells me the Reyes is going to be wild. (-:
It all started with the Shaw-Ko match in the quarters. Jayson was up in the match most of the way and played to the crowd. He did a lot of gesturing like a Roman gladiator.
Lo and behold, Ko started doing the same when he came back in the match. Then the crowd started chanting his name!
I never, ever thought I would see Ko do that.
Much to my surprise, he did it again in the semis vs Roda. And both he and Chua egged on the crowd in the finals.
Never expected it from Chua either!
Something tells me the Reyes is going to be wild. (-:
Exactly why I like watching him. He is so cerebral. But I get why others don't.
Here is a more complete explanation from Fedor about the problem:
Post from Fedor Gorst | Professional Pool Player
Hey everyone, I’m sorry for the late post here on YouTube. I’ve already shared updates on Instagram and Facebook, but I wanted to make sure I explain in deta...
www.youtube.com
there really hasn't been anything resembling such a big crowd in a pool tournament since the world championship in manila in the noughties. i've been longing for it since then, because it adds a dimension of pressure. i think it got to biado and roda in the semis.
now they only need to jack up the price money, because hanoi open deserves to be a blue ribbon event.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
Wonder how much it cost to watch the event in Hanoi?
I think entrance fee should be low as possible to attract bigger and bigger audiences in live events.
Completely agree that it adds another dimension that really tests a players mettle.