BURSA - The best World Cup final ever played had a glorious winner. On Sunday afternoon, in the Bursa arena, Frédéric Caudron beat his main rival Dick Jaspers by 40 points to 14 in seven innings. The Belgian wrote billiard history doing it, because the final in front of packed stands was a world record. The previous best ever final was played by Jaspers, two years ago in Luxor, Egypt, when he needed eight innings to beat Haeng Jik Kim. The 49-year old Frédéric Caudron, about to sign his permanent top contract with Kimchi, was dominant from the first inning, showing a rare brilliance against the two year older Jaspers. The always highly charged derby of the Low Countries should have been the climax of a high quality tournament. As it turned out, there was no match tension in this final because Caudron controlled proceedings, demonstrating extraordinary position play.
Dick Jaspers, who looked close to seting a new world record tournament average, could do little else than watch. Caudron's opening run of 12 was followed by a three, a four and another ten in the fourth inning, giving the Belgian an unsurmountable lead (29-7) at halftime. The rapid-fire match lasted only 45 minutes, even though Caudron's production was halted by two open innings. In dazzling form, Caudron produced a closing run of eleven: 40-14 in 7, averages 5.714 and 2.000.
Caudron: ,,I was the underdog in this final, and Jaspers was the favorite because he had played such a superior tournament. And being the underdog is often a bit easier. I had a great start with that run of 12. I had good positions to work with, and could get further ahead, to 29-4. The chances were there for the taking, but I did play with more guts than in the previous days. I would not have had a chance otherwise.''
The catharsis came for Caudron with a burst of pride and joy, accompanied by the applause from the stands. ,,I was so happy to have won, most of all because of the importance for the ranking. Winning the Belgian title kept me in the top. Here in Bursa, I had to defend 80 points. Winning this one means I am where I was: second behind Jaspers.''
,,Dick did win the overall World Cup last year, but I was not really impressed with his play. Here in Bursa he played out of this world, with the highest average of all, which he has almost always.''
The final day lacked the tension of the earlier rounds, when many matches were decided on a knife's edge. Korean Dong-Koong Kang could never keep up with Caudron in the semi (40-26 in 20), Dick Jaspers had no mercy with Bury (40-21 in 14). The number one position of Jaspers on the ranking is not in danger. The Dutchman remains on top with 432 points ahead of Caudron 392, Blomdahl 356, Sánchez 324 and Polychronopoulos 297. Then followed by Merckx, Zanetti, Bury, Haeng-Jik Kim and Sidhom.
Jung-Han Heo recorded the highest run of the tournament (16), Frédéric Caudron has the best match: seven innings. Other highlights were the 9-inning match by Bury against Jae Ho Cho, and the 8-inning victory over Cenet by Dick Jaspers. The exodus of Turkish players in the first round was disappointing to the home crowd. Lütfi Cenet was the only one to survive, but he was eliminated a day later.
Sung-Won Choi was one of the best players in the qualification rounds, with a ten-inning match against Regay Henry. The Korean topped the list on the last qualifying day, with 2.424, ahead of Vietnamese Quoc Nguyen Nguyen with 2.105.
Two other remarkable matches in the main tournament: Jose Juan Garcia from Colombia finished with a run of ten in his match against Dong-Koong Kang, to win 40-36 in ten innings. It was one of the ten best matches in history, in terms of combined average. Torbjörn Blomdahl played Dong-Koong Kang on Saturday, and almost produced a miracle. The Korean ended at 40-25, Blomdahl had an impossible task but came up with a mighty run of twelve, to lose by only three points.
Frédéric Caudron: ,,The tournament had four historic matches: Garcia against Kang, Bury in 9 innings, Jaspers in 8 en my 7 innings in the final. That is exceptional. The high level also creates a lot of tension, because a twenty point lead means nothing these days. The current field of players makes every tournament top notch.''
The final ranking of the Bursa World Cup (average and high run):
1 Frédéric Caudron (Belgium) 2.105-12
2 Dick Jaspers (Netherlands) 2.636-15
3 Jérémy Bury (France) 2.274-13
3 Dong-Koong Kang (Korea) 1.536-11
5 Jae-Ho Cho (Korea) 2.230-11
6 Torbjörn Blomdahl (Sweden) 1.746-12
7 Seung-Jin Lee (Korea) 1.721-11
8 Nikos Polychronopoulos (Greece) 1.419-9
9 Eddy Merckx (Belgium) 1.846-8
10 Quoc Nguyen Nguyen (Vietnam) 1.766-15
11 Sung-Won Choi (Korea) 1.666-14
12 Roland Forthomme (Belgium) 1.631-8
13 Dani Sánchez (Spain) 1.475-8
14 Ji-Hun Ahn (Korea) 1.444-11
15 Lütfi Cenet (Turkey) 1.384-13
16 Hyung-Kon Kim (Korea) 1.254-14.
Frédéric Caudron on top of the podium with Jaspers, Kang and Bury
Caudron, the well deserved winner and Jaspers, the sportive loser
Dick Jaspers-Jérémy Bury: 40-21 in 14
With a lightning start (13 from the break), Jaspers puts pressure on the Frenchman who can't cope. A splendidly playing Dutchman leads 20-5 at halftime and makes it 26-7. The two best players of the Saturday now face off, and it's a one-sided affair. Jaspers is brilliant, Bury can't keep up and gets outclassed. His one peak, with a run of seven in the tenth inning, is not enough. Jaspers makes it 35-17, then finishes with a technically perfect point in the next inning: 40-21 in 14 (3.077/1.615).
Dick Jaspers and Jérémy Bury before their semi-final match
Jaspers after his victory over Bury
Jérémy Bury, in full concentration during the semi-final
Frédéric Caudron-Dong-Koong Kang: 40-26 in 20
The Belgian quickly finds his rhythm in the early Sunday hours and Dong-Koong Kang is not the feared player he was for days. Frédéric Caudron takes advantage, attacks and has an early lead of 9-2. Kang can counter to make it 14-14, but a run of eight by Caudron makes the difference. At halftime it is 25-14, and when Kang misses two short-angle shots, Caudron makes it 36-22, then 40-26 in 20 (2.000/1.300).
Frédéric Caudron and Dong-Koong Kang on their way to the semi-final match
Dong-Kong Kang, disappointed after his loss
The new world ranking after Bursa:
1 Jaspers 432
2 Caudron 392
3 Blomdahl 326
4 Sánchez 324
5 Polychronopoulos 297
6 HJ Kim 286
7 Merckx 280
8 Bury 260
9 Zanetti 255
10 Sidhom 228
11 Heo 216
12 Cho 213
13 Coklu 191
14 Tran 190
15 Kang 173
16 Tasdemir 163
17 Piedrabuena 157
18 Choi 145
19 Leppens 140
20 Forthomme 138.
UMB president Farouk Barki, the Turkish president Ersan Ercan and the invitees in front of the podium
Turkish referees for the final day