Former Asia billiards champion Aung San Oo lines up a shot at the Myanmar Billiards Federation's training room at Aung San Indoor Stadium, Yangon, on August 22. Pic: Aye Zaw Myo

MYANMAR billiards coach Dr Min Naing said the country’s top players were confident about their chances heading into the 36th World Billiards Championships in Singapore this week.

The Myanmar team of three, comprising former Asia titleholder Aung San Oo, Nay Thway Oo and Kyaw Oo, help make up a field of 36 of the world’s best cueists at the September 4-9 spectacle, with players from Australia, England, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam competing in eight groups.

Aung San Oo and Kyaw Oo are both veterans of Myanmar’s only other World Billiards Championships, when the pair both reached the quarterfinals of the 34th edition held in India in 2003.

“This tournament is going to be more competitive than regional Asian tournaments, which we often participate in,” Dr Min Naing warned. “But I believe my players can do well at the tournament because two them have a lot experience in international competitions.”

Missing the cut was Aung Htay, who finished 4th in the domestic qualifying competition despite putting in Myanmar’s best performance at the Asian Billiards Championships last May in Doha, where he clinched the bronze medal.

Dr Min Naing said Asia contributed some of the world’s top billiards players, which put Myanmar in a good position this week as the team were already familiar with many of the opponents they would meet in Singapore.

“Players from India, Singapore and Thailand have been world champions in recent years and the defending world champion, Pankaj Advani, is from India. My players have beaten some of those players in Asian tournaments so I’m not worried about their ability,” he said.

“But another major challenge will come from England. We haven’t met them before and it’s going to be a great test for my players,” he added.

Aung San Oo, the 2006 Asia billiards champion, has been grouped with defending world titleholder Advani and three players from Singapore, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand.

Aung San Oo said his greatest threat would come from Advani, but admitted, “I don’t know about the players from Ireland and New Zealand.”

Aung San Oo has met Advani only once before, at the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar, and lost.

“Although I lost to Advani last year, I’m not worried about him in the group stage (from which the top two players advance). It’s very important to keep the rhythm I’ve picked up during training. If I’ve got this rhythm at the tournament, no matter who my opponent is I can beat him,” he said.

Kyaw Oo has been grouped with seven-time former world champion Geet Sethi of India and three players from Ireland, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Kyaw Oo beat Sethi in the 2002 Asian Games semifinal in South Korea and was confident heading into the tournament this week, Dr Min Naing said.

Kyaw Oo has also played Advani four times during his career, winning twice.
Nay Thway Oo has the toughest task ahead of him in Singapore, having been drawn in the “group of death” alongside reigning Asian billiards champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore as well as Udon Khaimuk of Thailand, Dhrav Sitwala of India and a relatively unknown from England.

“All the opponents in his group are tough and the Englishman is also likely to be an excellent player. That isn’t to say Nay Thway Oo can’t advance from this group, he has the ability to rise to the challenge and I hope he does,” Dr Min Naing said.

“According to the draw, I think at least two of my players can get past the group stage,” he added.

“But to win the title doesn’t just depend on a player’s ability, a little good luck is also needed.”