Bao Phương Vinh finishes second in a disappointing manner at the Asian carom championship.

The remarkable campaign of Bao Phương Vinh at the 2026 Asian Billiards Championship came to a close as he claimed the runner-up spot, defeated by Korea's Kim Haeng Jik in the final that finished on the night of May 8.

Although he could not complete a perfect story on home soil,Bao Phương Vinhstill left a strong impression with an emotional performance, consistently springing surprises against the tournament's top contenders.

In the championship match of the three-cushion carom event,Bao Phương Vinhentered determined against Kim Haeng Jik, a Korean player who has won the World Cup three times and is ranked 16th in the world—highly skilled but unlucky in recent years.

The final was thrilling with a fast-paced exchange of attacks. Kim Haeng Jik repeatedly took the lead and built up points, but the Vietnamese player persistently chased throughout the match.

However, the composure and experience of the Korean player came to the fore at the decisive moment. Kim Haeng Jik executed a decisive series to close out the final with a 50-42 victory after 23 innings, thus winning the Asian championship for the second time in his career.

This was also the first time in nearly seven years that Kim Haeng Jik won a major international title, marking an impressive comeback right on Vietnamese soil.

Meanwhile, Bao Phương Vinh can be proud of a campaign that exceeded expectations. Before the tournament, the player from Ho Chi Minh City was not highly rated, having only advanced from the group stage thanks to tie-breakers with a record of one win and two losses.

However, as the tournament progressed, Bao Phương Vinh played more explosively. In the round of 16, he caused a shock by coming from behind to defeat the defending champion and world number one, Cho Myung Woo. After that, the Vietnamese player went on to beat Son Jun Hyuk in the quarterfinals and overcame senior Trần Thanh Lực in the semifinals to earn a spot in the final.

Kim Haeng Jik also had a surprising journey, eliminating Trần Quyết Chiến in the first knockout round, before successively overcoming Nguyễn Đình Quốc and Lee Beom Yeol.

The fact that Bao Phương Vinh and Kim Haeng Jik made it to the final match was considered a major surprise of the tournament, as earlier names like Cho Myung Woo, Trần Quyết Chiến, and Trần Thanh Lực were seen as the bright candidates for the title.

Although he missed out on the crown, the Asian runner-up finish is still an encouraging achievement for Bao Phương Vinh, and it also shows that Vietnamese billiards continues to maintain its competitive position on the continent's top stage.