Underdogs Vietnam Win Again

VIETNAM, the 33/1 outsiders, continued to upset the form book at the 2006 PartyPoker.com World Cup of Pool as they came from behind again to oust favourites Italy and book a spot in Sunday’s semi-final line-up.
 

The Hanoi-based pairing of Thanh Nam Nguyen and Chi Dung Long have catapulted themselves into the big league of international pool with a string of brave performances and their easy-going antics have made them a hit with Welsh audiences too.
 

The duo were ecstatic following their win and with a guaranteed US$8,000 each – three times the national average wage - for reaching the semis, they had every reason to smile.
 

Following wins over Croatia, Holland and now Italy, the Vietnamese will be full of confidence for their semi-final match against either USA or Hong Kong.
 

The Italian pairing of Fabio Petroni and Angelo Millauro were always in the match and did well to level things up at 7 all from 7-5 down and when they broke for the match at 8-7 they must have believed the win was theirs.
 

Vietnam started where they left off last night, following their last-gasp win over Holland as they took the opening rack. Petroni and Millauro, once again sporting their slick designer outfits, took the next before the Vietnamese regained their lead in the third.
 

A poor safety from the underdogs left a makeable cross table bank shot on the 5 and Millauro took it on to set up the run out for the Italians which took the score to 2-2.
 

Vietnam put Italy in a tight snooker and, racing against the clock, Millauro failed to make contact to give ball in hand to Vietnam and they ran through the balls, including superb table-length bank on the 6 ball to go to 3-2.
 

They took the next as well against the break to put some space between themselves and their opponents.
 

The Italians got to the table with some good fortune in the next and completed the run out to get back to 3-4 down before they won the eighth with their break to level things up at 4-4 in what was a thrilling match.
 

Millauro missed a long blue 2 trying to force position and the Vietnamese took full advantage to get to 5-4. There was more misery for Angelo in<