NEUHAUSEN, CAPITO, VERGARA AND LABUTIS CHARGE INTO SEMI-FINALS IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

A new champion is set to emerge in the Vietnamese capital as Moritz Neuhausen, Robbie Capito, Harry Vergara, and Pijus Labutis all booked their places in the semi-finals of the 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship after another thrilling day of world-class nineball action.

The 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship — the third edition of this prestigious Matchroom Major on the World Nineball Tour — takes place at the Vietnam National Sports Complex in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 8–12 October.

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Germany’s Moritz Neuhausen was the first player to seal his semi-final spot, producing an exceptional display to defeat David Alcaide 10–3 before following up with another composed win over Roberto Gomez.

Not only does the result mark Neuhausen’s first-ever appearance in an Open semi-final, it also secures him a place on Team Rest of the World for next week’s Reyes Cup.

Neuhausen said: “I feel great — this means a lot to me. It’s the furthest I’ve gone in an Open event, and I can see my hard work starting to pay off. The rolls have been kind, but I’m proud of how I’ve handled the pressure. Qualifying for the Reyes Cup is amazing, but right now all I’m thinking about is winning here in Hanoi. I conquered Da Nang last week, and to do the same here would be something really special. I’m here to give it everything.”

Robbie Capito continued his impressive form, edging past Aloysius Yapp before grinding out a tense victory over Max Lechner to reach the semi-finals of a Matchroom Major for the second time — the first being the 2024 UK Open, where he went on to lift the title.

Capito admitted: “I’m still shaking. It was such a close battle against Max, so all credit to him. The last time I was in a semi-final was the UK Open, and that ended up being one of the biggest moments of my career. I’m trying not to think too far ahead this time — just one match, one rack, one ball at a time. The job’s not done yet.”

Harry Vergara also broke new ground, reaching his first-ever Matchroom Major semi-final after impressive wins over Frazer Patrick and Jonas Souto. The Filipino star showed composure beyond his years to continue his dream run in Hanoi.

Vergara said: “I feel amazing. To beat players of that calibre and reach my first semi-final is an incredible feeling. This is a big moment for me, and having my friends and supporters here makes it even more special. I’m enjoying every second of it.”

Completing the semi-final lineup is Lithuania’s Pijus Labutis, who produced one of the standout performances of the day by eliminating both Raymund Faraon and reigning World Champion Carlo Biado.

Labutis said: “I’m ready to win my first Matchroom Major title. Beating players like Faraon and Biado gives me a lot of confidence going into tomorrow. I’ve been working hard all season for moments like this, and I feel like my game is peaking at the right time. I’ll give it everything I have — I want to make tomorrow count.”

With the semi-finals now confirmed, four players from four nations will battle for a place in Sunday’s final, where one will be crowned the new king of Hanoi.

2025 HANOI JUNIOR OPEN

Day four also saw the conclusion of the 2025 Hanoi Junior Open, where New Zealand’s Jack Beggs defeated Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Trung 9–7 in a thrilling finale. The victory marks Beggs’ second junior title and a moment of World Nineball Tour history, as he becomes the first player ever to win back-to-back Junior Open titles.

The event attracted a talented field of juniors aged 17 and under from around the globe, all vying for a share of the $10,000 prize fund and a $2,500 winner’s purse, while showcasing the next generation of nineball stars.

Don’t miss your chance to witness world-class nineball in the heart of Southeast Asia — secure your tickets now.

Fans can follow the full draw and live rack-by-rack scoring at www.wntlivescores.com, with coverage shown on WNT TV internationally, and in Vietnam via the Vietnam Billiards Promotion YouTube Channel and VTVcab.

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