3-Cushion
LAUSANNE - The success of the first two editions of the Lausanne Billard Masters has inspired the organization to continue the now prestigious event. In the upcoming week, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November, Diane Wild and her team of professionals will welcome eight of the world's top players and two Swiss guests to the Lausanne Casino, to play for the title. Diane Wild, an accomplished organizer and member of the CEB board, has had to go the distance once again, to meet her budget. She did it again: billiard fans worldwide will be able to enjoy three days of top 3-cushion. The Lausanne tournament has become a warm-up for the world championship, which takes place in Bordeaux this time, three weeks from now. Belgian Frédéric Caudron played in Lausanne prior to his Antwerp world title in 2013, and Sung-Won Choi was last year's world champion, having prepared for that in Switzerland.
The field of ten players can look forward to substantial prize money. The undisputed star of "Lausanne" is Marco Zanetti. The Italian won both editions of the tournament, and almost plays for a home audience, as he competes in the Swiss league for Lausanne. His last major success was the World Cup win in Hurghada. Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers and Tayfun Tasdemir are all present, and they are three of the best players of the season. Jaspers won the World Cup in Luxor, Blomdahl won the European Championship and the Porto World Cup, Tayfun Tasdemir won the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, and was runner-up in Guri, Korea. Martin Horn, who is no longer active in World Cups, is again invited. He did extremely well in Lausanne last year, when he made it to the final. Kozoom reporter Markus Schönhoff had some questions for Diane Wild, a week before the tournament.
Kozoom/Markus Schönhoff: The Lausanne Billard Masters will be played on Korean tables this year. Is this a new collaboration for the tournament, and maybe also a European breakthrough for manufacturer Min?
Diane Wild: These are the same tables that have been used for the Guri World Cup in the past two years, and also in Vietnam. It is a "first" for Min in Lausanne. I am very happy with the three-year contract we agreed on. The tables have been shipped from Korea to Europe a month ago.''
Kozoom/MS: Was it easier to find sponsors for this event, after two successful editions? What is the total budget?
DW: It did not get any easier. With our new partner Min, things might get better, because we now have a chance to create exposure in Asia. Our total budget is 160.000 Swiss francs. The recurring problem is, that we are never sure the tournament can and will be held the next year. When we close an edition, we start from scratch to meet our budget for the next one. Billiards is an almost unknown sport in Switzerland, but we are doing all we can to change that.
Kozoom/MS: As in the last two editions, there is again a realistic chance we will see the future world champion in action in Lausanne.
DW: Eight of the best players in the world will come to Lausanne, and there is indeed a good chance one of them will win the world championship in Bordeaux. But as we all know, the global level of play is very high and there are many strong players. Last year, Sung Won Choi did not even play to the best of his ability in Lausanne, but he still won the world title a week later.
Kozoom/MS: Are there any changes to the first and second edition?
DW: The format has not changed: ten players in two flights, cross-finals between the nrs. 1 and 2. But this year, we will play the semi's back to back, not simultaneously. That's better for the audience. Another novelty: we have a billiard in the "Blauer Salon" (the restaurant), where everybody can play.
Kozoom/MS: The German fans are of course looking forward to Martin Horn's contribution. The LBM is one of the few individual tournaments he plays in. Unfortunately, Lausanne will be the reason he misses out on the German championships in Bad Wildungen.
Martin Horn, last year's runner-up in Lausanne.
DW: We are happy to have Martin Horn, again. The crowd in Lausanne likes him, and last year he performed really well (runner-up). It is a pity the LBM coincides with the German event, but we have been on the UMB-calendar with these dates for years now.
Kozoom/MS: Will the charity be a part of the LBM again this year?
DW: Yes, and we are very proud of our cause: people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). This is the third time we support that goal, in collaboration with our main sponsor Merck Suisse SA. There is good reason to get behind this charity, because it actually helps improve the lives of people who suffer from MS.
