VIERSEN - The final day at the World team three cushion championship will see three European teams face the Vietnamese defending champion in the arena on Sunday. Late Saturday night went to a stunning climax with two barrages in Scotch doubles, won by Turkey and the Netherlands. The Belgians and Vietnamese had already qualified for the four podium spots earlier on Saturday, leading to semi-finals between Vietnam and Belgium (Sunday 11am) and the Netherlands against Turkey (1pm). The Saturday evening in the atmospheric Festhalle went to a scintillating bouncer with two matches ending in a tie and therefore to be decided in the Scotch double: two players from each team on turn at the billiards to games of 15 caroms.
The Netherlands and South Korea reached that barrage after Dick Jaspers won against Myung Woo Cho 40-28 in 28 and Jean Paul de Bruijn lost to Jung han Heo 40-33 in 25 thanks to Heo's final run of eight. The Turkish duo with debutant Ufuk Kapusiz and Berkay Karakurt remained poised against the German home team: Berkay Karakurt, the star player of this tournament, beat Martin Horn 40-38 in 23, at the other table Ronny Lindemann won against Kapusiz 40-20 in 31.
The barrage between the Turks and Germans ended in Turkish favor after a strong finish from Karakurt and Kapusiz's winning carom for 15-7. The Netherlands first looked at a 9-3 margin for the Koreans, brought that score back to 9-9, took a 12-9 lead, a fantastic ball by Cho made it 12-10 for the Netherlands and by Heo 12-11, but on that score Cho missed. Jaspers made it 13-11, De Bruijn 14-11 and finally Jaspers 15-11
The first quarter-finals on Saturday brought Belgium and Vietnam into the spotlight for places in the semi-finals. Both matches were decided in the regular duel. The Belgians beat USA by a maximum score, the Vietnamese did the same against the Mexicans.
Peter Ceulemans did not shy away from the dangerous Pedro Piedrabuena at this Worlds. Especially as the American recorded a nine zero in his next 10 innings after leading 10-6 in four innings. Ceulemans kept scoring regularly and ran out to 33-17 in 15, including with two 5's. The Belgian did not give that margin away: 40-21 in 23. Roland Forthomme was 11-5 in 10 against Patiño, stood 25-16 when the American number two came alongside with 9. That was Patino's last real attack as Forthomme ran through 31-26 to 38-28 and finally 40-30 in 31 after four misses for Patiño at the end of the match.
Phuong Vinh Bao, second man for Vietnam and winner of all his matches throughout the tournament, beat Christian Hernandez of Mexico 40-14 in 16 innings. Quyet Chien Tran triumphed against Javier Vera 40-28 in 23. Bao faced a very mediocre Hernandez, whom he brought to a 32-12 margin after 11 innings with runs of 8 and 7. The match had run its course at that score, as Hernandez' fire was extinguished: 40-14 in 16. Tran sent the successful Vera back to Mexico 40-28 in 23 innings.
Peter Ceulemans, the leading player in the Belgian team
Dick Jaspers, two decisive points in the Scotch Double
Berkay Karakurt from Turkey, one of the stars at this World championship