Dương Quốc Hoàng suffered an unbelievable defeat in the opening match of the Philippines Open 2025.
A single slip on the 9-ball caused Vietnam’s top billiards pool player, Dương Quốc Hoàng, affectionately known as "Hoàng Sao," to be eliminated in the first round of the Philippines Open 2025, in what was considered the biggest upset since the tournament began.
On the afternoon of October 21 (Hanoi time), Dương Quốc Hoàng faced the home player Eric Navarette – a lesser-known but very experienced local competitor. The match started poorly for Hoàng as he fell behind 8-3. However, the composure and experience of the Reyes Cup 2025 champion allowed him to fight back strongly. Precise shots and excellent cue ball control helped Hoàng Sao to level at 8-8 and even take the lead 9-8, needing just one more rack to advance.
But the bitter turning point arrived at the decisive moment. In the "hill-hill" rack, when Navarette missed the chance to pocket the 9-ball, Dương Quốc Hoàng had a golden opportunity to finish the match. However, his crucial shot narrowly missed the pocket, causing the Manila audience to fall nearly silent. Navarette then calmly made the winning shot, concluding the match with a thrilling 10-9 victory.
Dương Quốc Hoàng could not hide his disappointment after the heartbreaking loss in his opening match at the Philippines Open 2025. Photo: Matchroom Pool
Notably, Eric Navarette is not among the top-ranked players in the Philippines. He is better known as a billiards club owner and taxi driver in his hometown. Nevertheless, his confidence, fighting spirit, and the passionate support from the crowd helped him create the tournament’s biggest shock.
Unlike many WNT system events that have winners and losers brackets, the Philippines Open 2025 used a single-elimination format. This meant that the 9-10 loss ended Dương Quốc Hoàng’s journey after just one match.
This defeat came only days after Hoàng and the Asian team successfully defended their Reyes Cup 2025 title with a resounding 11-3 win over the World team. At that time, the Quảng Ninh native played brilliantly, notably defeating top American player Skyler Woodward, helping Asia secure the win early.
Therefore, Dương Quốc Hoàng’s loss at the Philippines Open was deeply regretted by many fans. On billiards forums, numerous comments suggested that "just a bit more composure and luck" could have led to a spectacular comeback by Hoàng Sao.
Up to now, the 9-10 result of Dương Quốc Hoàng is regarded as the biggest upset in the Philippines Open 2025. Meanwhile, other top players like Fedor Gorst, Jonas Souto, Michael Feliciano, Anton Raga, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and Mickey Krause have all advanced to the next stages.
Links
Contact
Address：UNIT 1804 SOUTH BANK TOWER, 55 UPPER GROUND,LONDON ENGLAND SE1 9E
Number：+85259695367
E-mali：icecmxtdaf@gmail.com
App
