Vietnamese Female Cueists Go 'Two-in-One': Vàng Competes in Both Pool and 3-Cushion, Awaiting Hot Girl Showdown at HBSF Tour 2

In the early days of September, the atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City is heating up not only because of the weather, but also because of a tournament that fans affectionately call the 'Vietnamese Billiards World Cup'. 310 cueists have gathered to compete in 4 events, and what catches the audience's attention more than anything is not the record number of participants, but the appearance of a group of female players who possess both professional skill and media appeal. In the midst of that picture, the name Bùi Xuân Vàng stands out with an ambitious tactical choice: competing simultaneously in two contrasting disciplines – pool and 3-cushion carom. The tournament is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards & Snooker Federation (HBSF), officially named HBSF Billiards Tour 2 – Cup MIN Table. With a scale of nearly 310 players across 4 events, this is considered an important gathering point for Vietnamese billiards ahead of the Women's World Championship in France after September 11. The absence of Dương Quốc Hoàng (Hoàng Sao) disappoints experts, but in return, female players such as Nguyễn Đức Yến Sinh, Bùi Xuân Vàng, and newcomer Huỳnh Hoa are creating a promising new wave. Speaking of the difference between the two disciplines, I clearly see a reality: 3-cushion carom requires the cue ball to hit at least 3 cushions before hitting the second object ball, while pool revolves around pocketing balls. They differ not only in rules but also in fundamental techniques: hand force, cue ball control, the thickness of the stroke, and spatial thinking on the table all operate under their own logic. A national pool champion like Bùi Xuân Vàng stepping into 3-cushion carom within the same tournament is not simply 'trying out', but a problem of systemic adaptability. In the women's carom group stage, the surprise came from the dominant 25-9 victory of reigning Asian champion Nguyễn Đức Yến Sinh over Mỹ Duyên. This result demonstrates the very high form of the former national champion, and also sends a message to opponents before she, along with Nguyễn Thị Liên and Nguyễn Thị Bích Trâm, departs for France. Data from one match is not enough to confirm absolute dominance, but enough to create a foundation of confidence. In contrast to Yến Sinh, Bùi Xuân Vàng's journey in the 3-cushion event was much more difficult. She narrowly won 22-21 against Nguyễn Thị Thu in her opening match. A narrow victory in a long set shows that switching between two disciplines is not easy. But what is notable is that she still had the composure to score in decisive situations. Meanwhile, her match against Nguyễn Ngọc Phương Anh on September 9 will be an important test: if she overcomes it, she will enter her first pool match with a winner's mentality. Speaking of young faces, Huỳnh Hoa (born 2026, from Cần Thơ) left her mark in her tournament debut by narrowly losing to Lê Thị Ngọc Huệ, a player who has won SEA Games medals. Despite the loss, this young player has shown great potential by standing at a level close to a regional champion. Her statement 'I will return at the next stop' is not just a promise, but a mental boost for a career that has just begun. From the perspective of a sports science researcher, I see a bigger issue behind Bùi Xuân Vàng competing in two contrasting events. In open-skill sports like billiards, switching between two different motor systems in a short period creates a form of 'double cognitive load'. A carom stroke requires the finesse of cushion contact, while a pool stroke requires the precision of pocketing. Without proper allocation, a player may fall into a half-hearted state in both disciplines. This leads me to a counterintuitive perspective: Bùi Xuân Vàng's appearance in 3-cushion carom may not be an individual tactic, but a strategic signal for Vietnamese women's billiards. If pool is where she holds the national championship crown, why would she invest energy in a carom event that ends just days before her main event begins? The answer may lie in the Federation seeking to expand the national women's carom team by converting talented pool players. A hypothesis, but not without basis. Looking at the bigger picture, it is undeniable that female players attract public attention. However, as an analyst, I believe the most important thing to follow in this tournament is not the adjectives the press uses for them. Match data, adaptability in cross-discipline play, and the deep runs of names like Yến Sinh or Vàng are far more accurate measures than counting media appearances. Each tournament is a confession of its system, and my job is to listen to what it says. At this HBSF Tour 2, that confession lies in the dense schedule that forces players to finish their journey in Ho Chi Minh City on September 11 and immediately depart for France for the Women's World Championship. When the gap between two tournaments is measured in days, physical recovery and environmental adaptation abroad become tactical factors equal to cue skills. The question is whether organizers account for this in scheduling future stops, because a player coming off a long campaign needs time to rediscover her best feeling on the international stage. September 9 will be the decisive moment. Bùi Xuân Vàng could produce an impressive double if she gets through the carom group stage and maintains her form in pool, or she will face physical exhaustion from racing on two fronts. Whatever the outcome, this raises a question about the development direction of Vietnamese women's billiards: are we creating versatile players, or simply diluting their strength across multiple arenas? As Vietnamese women's billiards stands at the door of the world stage, the answer may shape an entire next generation of players.