Chiêm Hồng Thái may not have completed the 'fairy tale', but Vietnamese billiards remains full of optimism.

Chiêm Hồng Thái could not conclude the fairy tale at the 2026 TP.HCM World Cup 3-Cushion Carom after losing to Belgian legend Frederic Caudron in the final. Nevertheless, the performances of the 1999-born Cần Thơ native over the entire tournament remain worthy of being regarded as one of the finest highlights of Vietnamese billiards in many years.

Facing offFrederic Caudronin the final was the ultimate challenge for any player. On the other side of the table stood one of the greatest icons in the history of world 3-cushion carom.

The Belgian "billiard genius" owns 21World Cuptitles, dominated the world carom scene for many years, and is admired for his creative style and nearly flawless technique.

That level of class was evident from Caudron's very first shots. He opened with a six-point run, quickly extending the lead to 11-0.

Although Chiêm Hồng Thái fought hard to narrow the score to 7-13, Caudron showed the coolness of a champion by firing a 15-point run, ending the first half with a commanding 38-15 advantage.

In the second half, the Belgian player continued to control the match completely before winning 50-25 in 22 innings, claiming his third title in Ho Chi Minh City after previous victories in 2016 and 2019.

The gap between Chiêm Hồng Thái and Caudron in the final reflected the difference in experience, composure, and class accumulated over decades at the highest level. But that does not diminish the value of the journey the Vietnamese player created.

In fact, looking back at the entire tournament, Chiêm Hồng Thái was the biggest surprise. From the position of a player who had to earn a wildcard after the qualifiers, he continuously produced stunning victories to advance all the way to the final match.

This young cueist successively overcame Bao Phương Vinh, defeated Dick Jaspers, and then beat Eddy Merckx—names that belong to the elite of world 3-cushion carom.

More importantly, Chiêm Hồng Thái surpassed famous Vietnamese billiards seniors like Trần Quyết Chiến, Bao Phương Vinh, Trần Thanh Lực, and Nguyễn Trần Thanh Tự to become the only home representative in the final.

In a tournament where many major hopes were eliminated early, the Cần Thơ-born player carried the expectations of Vietnamese fans in a convincing manner.

At 27, Chiêm Hồng Thái is also entering the prime stage of his career. Compared to a 58-year-old legend like Caudron, he still has plenty of time to refine his skills, accumulate experience, and conquer new milestones. The runner-up finish at the home World Cup is not an end point, but could be the beginning of a new chapter in his career.

Vietnamese billiards has already produced World Cup champions like Trần Quyết Chiến and Bao Phương Vinh. Now, Chiêm Hồng Thái shows he can be the next name to continue those successes.

The miracle may not have been completed in Ho Chi Minh City, but the journey ofChiêm Hồng Tháiremains a great source of pride. Because sometimes, the value of a tournament lies not only in the championship trophy, but also in the growth of a talent capable of making the whole world mention his name.