Straight shot: Duong Anh Vu (pictured) and Ma Xuan Cuong will represent Viet Nam at the World Championships 3-Cushion tournament in Germany — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Nhut

HA NOI — Duong Anh Vu and Ma Xuan Cuong will represent Viet Nam at the World Championships 3-Cushion tournament in Germany.

Six groups of three teams will compete in the qualifiers that begin on March 1. The six group winners and best two runners-up will go through to the knock-out stage. The final will take place on March 4.

Taking part will also be teams from Turkey, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

Viet Nam are in group C with Belgium, the defending runners-up, and Italy.

Representing Belgium, who are expected to top the group, will be Frederic Caudron, seeded No 2 in the world, and Eddy Merckx, who ranks at sixth.

The tandem Merckx/Caudron, who have been finalists in the Belgian championships for the last two years, are considered to be one of the strongest duos in the world.

Representing Italy will be Emilio Sciacca (44th in the world) and Fabrizio Cortese (221st).

Viet Nam's coach, Nguyen Viet Hoa, said his players would take part in some warm-up matches before the tournament in Viersen.

Cuong (29th in the world) and Vu, (No 35) are scheduled to compete in France on February 22.

In 2011, Viet Nam finished the competition in ninth place. Turkey A won the title. — VNS