They asked that the organizers provide contestant Al-Muhtadee Billah a luxury room right at the competition site so that he could get enough rest before and after each match.

All the suggested rooms were rejected and eventually the Brunei Embassy representatives chose the room of the sports center’s deputy manager Dinh Tan Be, which is located right inside the sports center.

The organizers agreed to rent the room and Be had to move his belongings so that it could be redecorated and upgraded to make it luxurious enough for Brunei’s crown prince.

Arriving in Vietnam on October 28, competitor Al-Muhtadee Billah rented all 38 rooms of the ninth floor of the five-star Park Hyatt Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. He himself stayed in a presidential suite which costs US$2,500 per night.

To ensure the athlete’s preparations went without a hitch, most of the Brunei Embassy employees in Hanoi flew to HCMC about two weeks earlier.

Just so

Everything was well set, but there were still some wrinkles to be ironed out.

It was not easy for Al-Muhtadee Billah to travel from the Park Hyatt Hotel to the sports center to train because a police escort would be required.

His entourage suggested to the organizers that a billiards table of the right standard be fixed right inside the hotel for him to practice, assuring them that the kingdom of Brunei would pay for everything; and the request was met immediately.

A lighting system of the right standard was required, too. It meant extra lights would need to be fixed and the request was also met without hesitation, because the guest was no ordinary VIP.

Although the purpose of his visit to Vietnam was simple - to compete in the men’s nine-ball category of the billiards & snooker, he was given a special, formal welcome, unlike any received by the other 4,000 plus participants.

For Al-Muhtadee Billah is not only heir to the throne of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, but also Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, a general in the Brunei Armed Forces and an inspector in the Brunei Police Force.

Ready to go

The preparation went without a hitch, and Al-Muhtadee Billah received a bye to go to the second round.

However, the crown prince was not in his best form. His Indonesian rival Simanjuntak Bewi prevailed 1-9.

Crown prince Al-Muhtadee Billah quickly walked to the car after the loss and returned to the hotel and left Ho Chi Minh City soon after.

Reported by Quang Huy