ANKARA - The Asia B team is the winner of the WCBS championship, a world tournament featuring eight teams in four different billiard disciplines. The final was between the B teams of Asia and Europe, who had emerged winners from the semi-finals against Asia A and Europe B. The difference in the battle for gold was minimal, but in the end, the Asians stood on the podium to celebrate the title.
The Europeans were superior in pool billiards in the finals with victories by Sara Rocha (Portugal) and Konrad Juszczyszyn (Poland), but the Asians won both matches in three-cushion. Haeng Jik Kim beat Dick Jaspers 40-39, Yuko Nishimoto was the strongest against Charlotte Sörensen.
In heyball, Shi TianQi (China) put the Asians ahead, but Sanjin Pehlivanovic (Bosnia Herzegovina) equalised again for the Europeans. That left everyone watching the two snooker tables, where Amir Sarkhosh (Iran) restored the Asian lead with a 3-2 win over Liam Davies (Wales).
Meanwhile, in women's snooker, Ewa Pawinska (Poland) led 2-1 against Vidya Pillai (India) and was clearly on her way to a 3-1 victory. But as she drew a couple of fouls in the closing stages of the frame, Pillai suddenly had a chance to equalize. She managed to do so moments later and as a 3-2 win for Pawinska would not have been enough for the Europeans to win the match because of the secondary score, the match was stopped. Thus, Team Asia B became the winner of the first-ever WCBS championship!
The tournament was played at the Turkish Federation Centre in Ankara. For four days, spectators saw great billiards in four different disciplines on location and with the total of eight live streams. A team consisted of eight athletes, snooker, pool, three-ball and heyball were played.
Earlier on Sunday, the two semi-finals and the match for third place were also unparalleled in excitement.
In the first semi-final, the two European teams faced each other. After eight games, the score stood 4-4, so the secondary score had to decide win or defeat. Europe B had a narrow lead and advanced to the final.
The second semi-final between Asia A and Asia B ended just as close. Again, the score was tied after eight games and again the so-called B team triumphed.
In the match for third place, Europe A and Asia A faced each other and how could it be otherwise, the teams were so evenly matched that the final score was a 4-4 draw. In the secondary score, Asia A was the better and thus won the bronze medal at the premiere WCBS championship.
Fifth and sixth places went to Africa & Rest of the World and Team America.
The Europeans with their B team finished as runner up after losing the final match against Asia B