3-Cushion
LIMA - The European champion, the Dutch champion and the number one in the world is also crowned as the new world champion in three cushion this evening. Dick Jaspers continued in the Circulo Militar de Jesus Maria in Lima, in a finale against Marco Zanetti which lots of tension, his gold rush in a glorious season. He won the final 3-2 after having closed a gap of 1-0 and 2-1 behind in sets.
The new champion, who celebrates his 46th birthday next week and won the title twice before in his career, made a round of honour around the arena after his last carom, kissed his cue and thanked the audience for the enthusiastic ovation. He played one of the toughest finals of his career in the Peruvian capital. Marco Zanetti, the experienced and cunning Italian, used all his tactical weapons in the final sets with some of his famous theatrical delights.
The match started already with a little incident, when Zanetti stopped the game and told the organizer and the President of the world federation that the music was too loud. Jaspers seemed impressed, lost the first set 15-8 (10), recovered with 15-6 (4), but was overwhelmed again in the third set (15-3 in 8).
The Dutchman, as many times before, picked up his spirit, feeling and rhythm at a crucial moment. He attacked from the breakshot to eight in the fourth set and won 15-2. Zanetti answered with a lead of 7-0 in the deciding fifth set, but Jaspers fought back to 8-8 and then gleaned the caroms that brought him to a glorious victory.
The apotheosis was sparkling, the finish brought the Dutchman in ecstasy: he danced in a circle around the billiard, threw kisses to the audience, kissed his cue and was embraced by Marco Zanetti, who had fought for every carom, defending himself with all his considerable qualities, but showed himself an admirable loser after the match.
Dick Jaspers played an average of 1.513 in the final, Marco Zanetti 1.324.
The overall average of the Dutchman was 1.917, Zanetti finished with 1.551. Two Spaniards were on the podium with bronze: Dani Sánchez, losing in the semifinals against Jaspers, played 1.808 average, Javier Palazón, who was eliminated by Zanetti, obtained 1.454. Frédéric Caudron was in average the best man of the rest with 2.045. Tayfun Tasdemir signed with fourteen for the highest run of the tournament, Dick Jaspers made a run of thirteen in the final.
The new world has increased his advantage on the world ranking. He brought his total to 524 points, Frédéric Caudron is second with 467 before Kyung-Roul Kim with 328, Eddy Merckx, with 322 and Daniel Sánchez with 319. Marco Zanetti climbed to eleventh place with 229 points, Tayfun Tasdemir is twelfth with 218. Jef Philipoom, who didn't play in this World championship, has been dropped out of top twelve. The Belgian is thirteenth with 211 points.