Philippine pool legend Efren Reyes selects Vietnam number one player for tournament against Europe

Matchroom announced the final two wild cards for the 9-ball pool tournament Reyes Cup on Sept. 26, with Hoang joining Team Asia and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz representing Team Europe. The 2024 Reyes Cup will be held from Oct. 15 to 18 in Manila, the Philippines, marking the first-ever competition between Asia and Europe, with each team consisting of five players.

Three out of five Asian players were chosen based on their performance this year: Johann Chua (Philippines), Aloysius Yapp (Singapore) and Ko Pin Yi (Taiwan). The two wild card spots went to Carlo Biado (Philippines) and Hoang.

Team Europe included Joshua Filler (Germany), Eklent Kaci (Albania), and Mickey Krause (Denmark), with Jayson Shaw (England) and Ruiz (Spain) being the two wild cards.

The decision to select Hoang, Vietnam’s number one pool player for Team Asia was made by Efren Reyes, who is widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time.

Vietnam number one pool player Duong Quoc Hoang. Photo by Matchroom

Hoang learned about his selection prior to the official announcement through a call from Matchroom CEO, Emily Frazer. To surprise him, Frazer initially told the 37-year-old player that the call would be about the Hanoi Open, taking place from Oct. 8 to 13.

At the start of the call, Frazer talked about the Hanoi Open, but midway through, she asked, "Are you free on Oct. 15?" When Hoang was confused, Frazer said "Reyes Cup!". Hoang was shocked as he clasped his hands in disbelief.

Throughout the rest of the brief video call, Hoang appeared emotional, placing his hand over his chest in surprise. "You deserve this spot," Frazer told him. "We are honored to see you in Team Asia."

Frazer further explained that the legendary Reyes specifically spare the final wild card spot for a Vietnamese because of his love for the country. With Hoang being Vietnam’s top player, it was an easy choice. Hoang’s assistant remarked that many speculated this would happen due to the strong pool fan base in Vietnam.

Hoang is 38th in world pool ranking, with 12 Asian players above him. He did not expect to be selected by Reyes for Team Asia.

"I can’t believe it," he told Matchroom. "My dream has come true. Representing Vietnam on the world stage is an honor that I’m very proud of. I’m ready to compete against Europe’s strongest players."

Efren Reyes competes at the SEA Games 31 in Vietnam on May 18, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

The Reyes Cup is named in honor of Efren Reyes and follows a similar format to the Mosconi Cup, which features Europe against the U.S. The 2024 Reyes Cup will feature 21 matches, including singles and doubles. The team that reach 11 victories first will be declared the winner.

Reyes, 70, won the 9-ball pool world championship in 1999 and 8-ball in 2004. He is known for his creative and entertaining playing style, earning him the nickname "The Magician." He is expected to play as a guest in Vietnam at the Hanoi Open, which begins on Oct. 8.