Premier League Pool
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
Vietnam’s Duong Quoc Hoang made history at the 2026 Premier League Pool, becoming the first Vietnamese player ever to capture a Matchroom major title with a 7-4 victory over Francisco Sanchez Ruiz in the final. The triumph at Classic Billiards in Miami marked a significant moment for the player known as The Martian and for Vietnamese pool on the international stage.
The league featured sixteen elite World Nineball Tour players competing in a round-robin format with race-to-5 matches over five days. The top four players advanced to the playoffs. This was the Premier League Pool’s first event in Florida.
In the final, Duong controlled the early stages against the former World Champion Ruiz. At 6-4, Duong came close to clinching the title but missed a 9-ball in the penultimate rack, giving Ruiz an opportunity to stay alive. Duong recovered to win the decisive final rack and secure the championship.
The victory caps a remarkable international career for Duong. He gained worldwide recognition by defeating then-defending World Nineball Champion Shane Van Boening at the 2023 World Pool Championship. Ranked 22nd in the world with over $82,000 in career prize money, Duong previously won the 2023 Scottish Open. The Premier League Pool title represents his first major championship victory.
Duong views the win as significant not only for himself but also for Vietnam and the support he has received from his home country. He considers representing his country on the international stage among the greatest honors of his career. The triumph adds to the growing global diversity of champions on the World Nineball Tour.
Sources: Matchroom Pool Matchroom Pool Player Profile
This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.