Local billiard players still allowed to compete in international tournaments

"Vietnamese athletes will be invited to participate in all international billiards events, including all multi-sport Games," according to a document sent to the VBSF signed by Farouk El Barki, president of the WCBS.

That means that local cueists no longer face the risk of not being able to compete in regional, continental, or global sporting events such as the SEA Games and Indoor Games.

Furthermore, the WCBS also announced the suspension of the membership of the VBSF for one year, starting from October 16. The Vietnamese federation will not be allowed to hold international billiards events, including pool, carom, or snooker in the country.

Moreover, its officials and managers will also not be permitted to engage in any international billiards events and regional, continental, and global sporting festivals. This comes after the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) also banned Vietnamese players from participating in international pool tournaments.

The ACBS sent a document on June 8 to its member federations, including Vietnam, regarding penalties for players or federations that participated in events not licensed by the ACBS.

Members of the VBSF have been banned from partaking in tournaments of the ACBS, the World Pool Association (WPA), and the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) for six months, from July 13 to January 12, 2025.