Nguyen Anh Vu stuns top seed Pham Minh Duc 50-44 in epic National 3-Cushion final at Hai Phong

On 14 August, at the Lach Tray Arena in Hai Phong, Nguyen Anh Vu completed one of the most extraordinary comebacks in the history of the National 3-Cushion Carom Championship. The 2026-born player defeated top seed and reigning three-time champion Pham Minh Duc 50-44 to claim his first major title. Beyond the spectacular chase, this final was a test of whether numbers and data can help explain a player's mentality under pressure. To many Vietnamese carom followers, the result was a shock: Duc was ranked world No. 8, Asian No. 2, and held a 78% win record this season. Yet every indicator collapsed as Vu exposed Duc's weakness in long-rail defensive positions. Vu's burst index – points scored per attacking visit – was 3.7 against Duc's 2.9, and his successful safety rate was 76% versus 61%. Trailing 23-30, Vu repeatedly forced Duc into –his weak long-rail area, then unleashed a seven-point run to level at 30-30. The decisive moment came with the score 40-40, when Vu combined safety control with a perfectly timed three-rail attack. He closed out the match 50-44. Duc admitted post-match that Vu won because of superior defensive play. For Nguyen Anh Vu, the title caps a journey that included selling a cow for coaching fees. Analysts point to his meticulous preparation, including commissioning Dutch video analysis of Duc's patterns and adjusting table practice to replicate the slow-speed cushion conditions at Lach Tray. The victory signals a generational shift in Vietnamese carom billiards, but only after Vu proves his consistency across multiple top-level events.