Kyle Amoroto achieved the greatest moment of his career at the Hanoi Open Pool Championship as the Filipino youngster came through a deciding rack classic against Shane van Boening in Vietnam.
Hanoi Open Pool Championship 2023: Draw, live scores, format, prize fund and how to watch
Amoroto, who reached the last 16 of the UK Open Pool Championship earlier this year, fended off a valiant comeback from the world number two to book his place in the single elimination phase.
Amoroto opened up a 6-2 advantage in a closely-contested match which involved numerous safety exchanges, although the legendary Van Boening battled back and forced a deciding rack.
Those safety battles continued into the all-important rack and Amoroto executed a couple of unbelievable snookers, only to leave an opening for Van Boening – who pocketed a convincing shot on the two ball to leave a nice layout.
Nevertheless, the American scratched after sinking the seven ball whilst playing position for the eight, leaving the Filipino with only the eight and nine balls to pocket for a fairytale victory on Vietnamese shores.
Van Boening was able to survive after being banished onto the one-loss side but was involved in another incredible match, denying Filipino Marvin Asis in a hill-hill encounter to book his place in the last 64.
Elsewhere, European Open runner-up Anton Raga won eight consecutive racks from 8-1 down against Billy Thorpe in a captivating comeback, reeling off five break and runs and punishing a couple of errors from the American.
Thorpe needed to overcome Britain’s Chris Melling to qualify for single elimination, although he exited the tournament alongside fellow Mosconi Cup hopeful BJ Ussery following a 9-6 defeat.
Elliott Sanderson survived a deciding rack affair to dump out snooker star Gary Wilson, with Wilson missing a nine ball by a considerable distance for a 4-0 lead during the early exchanges.
Vietnamese number two Nguyen Anh Tuan delighted his home supporters with a hard-fought 9-7 victory over David Alcaide, with Nguyen amongst a sextet of host nation players into the single elimination phase.
Ahmad Taufiq made history in becoming the first player from Brunei to reach the last 64 of a major open tournament on the World Nineball Tour, completing an impressive win over Phuong Nam Pham in the winners’ qualification round.
The inaugural Hanoi Open Pool Championship continues on Thursday in the Vietnamese capital, with Francisco Sanchez Ruiz versus Carlo Biado and James Aranas against Gerson Martinez amongst the stand-out last 64 ties.
Aleksa Pecelj and Sanjin Pehlivanovic, who are best friends on tour, also encounter one another, while 18-year-old Bernie Regalario’s dream major debut continues against Vietnam’s Luong Duc Thien.
