3-Cushion
BURSA - The matches between Dutch and Belgian sportsmen have become famous in the glorious years as the derby of the lowlands. Dick Jaspers and Frédéric Caudron, world class players in billiard, battled on Sunday in the World Cup in Bursa for the always prestigious classic in three cushion. The 50-year-old Dutchman triumphed in the first 2016 World Cup: 40-34 in nineteen innings.
The victory reminded of the success of tennis player Angelique Kerber two weeks ago at the Australian Open. The German lady survived a match point in the first round and won the tournament after a sensational week with a final win against Serena Williams.
Dick Jaspers could also look back at a remarkable moment after he had completed the course. The Dutchman started the World Cup in Bursa against Lütfi Cenet and escaped when his opponent missed three match points in the first match. Jaspers showed his renowned fighting spirit, won the match on character and then was unstoppable on his way to the overall win.
He was victorious against the Korean Hyung Bum Hwang (40-16 in 21), Belgian Roland Forthomme in the best match of the tournament (40-13 in 8, 5.000 average), Pedro Piedrabuena (40-38 in 20) and finally against his Belgian rival Caudron.
That match in the Ataturk centre was a nerve-wrecking battle to the halfway point: 14-13 in seven, 27-26 in twelve innings. Jaspers made the gap with an attack, a run of ten in the twelfth inning, to extend his lead to 37-26. He left his opponent five more chances to come back into the match, but then finished himself at 40-34 in the 19th inning.
And like Eddy Merckx did earlier in the semi-finals, Caudron missed his break shot. Jaspers jumped up from his chair, raised his hands into the air and celebrated his victory with the Turkish audience in the stands.
,,At the end of the final, I had a few difficult moments when I was close to the win and felt the pressure. That's why Caudron could came back. I was surprized that he missed the equalizer: the table had changed somewhat, but he did well to let the referee clean the balls. I really had not expected him to miss from the spots.''
, I am very happy with this important win'', the Dutchman said after the ceremony. ,,By this result I remain firmly in the top three of the world. To shine at the highest world stage always feels great, because everything is focused to the World Cups in three cushion. And... to win the final against Caudron, makes me very happy.''
The victory was the 22nd in a World Cup for Dick Jaspers, his third in Turkey, where he also took the European title in 2003. , The audience always makes atmosphere in Turkey with full stands, television, so it was a wonderful event.''
The Turkish organization showed to be an excellent host as usual, with an audience that sympathized enthusiastically, even after the elimination of the favorite home stars. The World Cup winners from 2016, Tayfun Tasdemir and Murat Naci Coklu, were outplayed in the early rounds by Merckx and Caudron.
Semih Saygıner had a good start but lost his second match to Torbjörn Blomdahl. The Swedish world champion was beaten by Caudron in the next round. Then, three Europeans, Jaspers, Caudron and Merckx and the American Pedro Piedraubuena made up the semi-final field.
Frédéric Caudron defeated his countryman Eddy Merckx in the run-up to the final 40-36 in 15. Dick Jaspers defeated Pedro Piedrabuena, who scored seven times from the equalizer, two caroms away from the draw (40-38 in 20).
The top three of the final ranking with Jaspers (2.352), Caudron (2.063) and Merckx (2.260) showed world-class averages. That is proof that the once feared Platin billiards have been improved to meet the needs of the world top players.
Dick Jaspers in his glorious moment after he won the final
The ranking in the Bursa World Cup (average, high runs):
1 Dick Jaspers, 2.325-12
2 Frédéric Caudron 2.063-15
3 Eddy Merckx 2.260-14
3 Pedro Piedrabuena 1.462-9
5 Torbjörn Blomdahl 2.129-14
6 Tayfun Tasdemir 1.924-11
7 Dong Koong Kang 1.714-11
8 Roland Forthomme 1.500-7
9 Semih Sayginer 1.918-11
10 Jung Han Heo 1.756-10
11 Marco Zanetti 1.645-11
12 Sung-Won Choi 1.461-13
13 Nikos Polychronopoulos 1.279-9
14 Eddy Leppens 1.235-13
15 Hyung Bum Hwang 1.191-10
16 Sameh Sidhom 1.114-7
17 Dani Sánchez 2.266-15
18 Lütfi Cenet 2.222-8
19 Turgay Orak 1.727-11
20 Jae Ho Cho 1.611-9.
The new World ranking:
1 Torbjörn Blomdahl 440 punten
2 Dani Sánchez 311
3 Dick Jaspers 307
4 Eddy Merckx 293
5 Tayfun Tasdemir 264
6 Frédéric Caudron 259
7 Marco Zanetti 206
8 Sameh Sidhom 181
9 Roland Forthomme 173
10 Jae Ho Cho 164
11 Dong Koong Kang 159
12 Quyet Chien Tran 157
13 Jung Han Heo 137
14 Pedro Piedrabuena 134
14 Murat Naci Coklu 134
16 Hyung Bum Hwang 131
16 Riad Nady 131
18 Eddy Leppens 130
19 Sung-Won Choi 117
20 Choong Bok Lee 108.
Dick Jaspers (left) and Frédéric Caudron before the final match
Dick Jaspers on his way to the final victory