GURI - This year 2018 is the year in which Dick Jaspers became world champion for the fourth time. He was among the best in New York and in the World Cups. He set a world record of 40 points in 4 innings and will get even more glamour and shine at the end of 2018. The seasoned Dutchman won the Survival Masters in the Korean city of Guri, a tournament format that was launched this year with all international top players. The winner received the city trophy at the ceremony, the main prize of 50,000 dollars and raised his total prize money for 2018 to 175,000 dollars. Professional billiards has earned a new status in this year 2018. And, Dick Jaspers, Holland's only top player, is one of the big money makers on the circuit.
"I really enjoy it, because these are moments that you have to cherish'', was the first comment of the winner. Jaspers felt that he , "came through the first round with a bit of luck", but then felt more and more the perfect feeling. "This is a dangerous game, because you can take advantage and lose the lead very quick, because they are all feared opponents. One of the most feared of all is Semih Sayginer who is playing very well this year."
"Yes, of course this is a big boost, this Survival victory. I am for two weeks in Korea, now I have three days of rest and time to practice before we start in the World Cup. But here, these days, I will first enjoy this win. Actually, I realize that 2018, in my 53rd year of life, is quite another peak in my career. I never think about how long I can go on, but this is a highlight with which every top player should be happy.''
The world champion, with sky-high averages over two and three in the best form of his life, showed the best of himself in the Korean billiard mecca. He overpowered all his opponents on the two final days at the Survival Masters, where he starred with full-speed-runs, fascinating finals, stunning shots and showing a subtle technique. Dick Jaspers was the very best in the Suvival, not yet in the pre-rounds, where he needed a second chance, but certainly at the final gala.
There he first beat Semih Sayginer, Marco Zanetti and Murat Naci Coklu in the semi-finals which he fired up with two 13-runs and 3.583 of average. It brought Jaspers (53) in the final against the other stars in the tournament: Quyet Chien Tran (34), Semih Sayginer (53) and Chi Yeon Cho (45). The Turkish wizard again confirmed his return to the world top, the small Vietnamese is this year's best of all Asians and Chi Yeon Cho, who sold his billiard room to become a professional player, was the revelation.
They all were knocked down by Dick Jaspers in the fight for the big money. In the first part, thanks to a run of nine, the Dutchman remained close to his three rivals, after the stop Jaspers was unstoppable in his attack on the leading position with runs of 8 and 10. Tran was the last to surrender, Sayginer finished third followed by Cho.
The final ranking:
1 Dick Jaspers 109-2.692-10
2 Quyet Chien Tran 57-1,692-6
3 Semih Sayginer 49-1.538-6
4 Chi Yeon Cho 25-1.076-3.
The four players in the finals with Quyet Chien Tran, Dick Jaspers, Semih Sayginer and Chi Yeon Cho
Dick Jaspers receives the trophy, left Mr. Farouk Barki, president of UMB
Semi-finals:
Jaspers 128- Sayginer 44 - Zanetti 36 - Coklu 32
At the end of the first semifinal, Dick Jaspers treated the spectators to a great exhibition. The Dutchman, who had a moderate start, started an irresistible attack in his last five innings and shone with two high runs of thirteen. The competition, of whom Semih Sayginer and Marco Zanetti led the field during the break, could only watch from their seats. Jaspers scored in those last five innings a string of 2-13-3-3-13 (34 caroms in 5), which brought him to a brilliant finish with an average of 3.583. Jaspers not only increased his score to a total of 128, he also caused his opponents 34 points deduction by that final sprint. Semih Sayginer was the cheering second thanks to Jaspers' long performance to the finish. Marco Zanetti and Murat Naci Coklu had to leave the tournament.
The ranking in this semi-final:
1 Dick Jaspers 128-3.583-13
2 Semih Sayginer 44-1.833-7
3 Marco Zanetti 36-1.666-9
4 Murat Naci Coklu 32-1.583-6.
Dick Jaspers
Semih Sayginer
Chi Yeon Cho 108 - Tran 103 - Ngo 31 - Jae-Ho Cho -9
The second semi-final showed two winners who played at Jaspers' level. 45-year-old Korean Chi Yeon Cho and Vietnamese Quyet Chien Tran achieved averages of 3.727 and 3.545 and left Korean top favourite Jae-Ho Cho with 0.571 far behind. Chi Yeon Cho started with 6, 9 and 7 in his first five innings, in which he scored 27 caroms. Tran was the leader at the with 109-93 thanks to a run of 11. The group win, however, went to Chi Yeon Cho, who was the last Korean in the field and was awarded by an ovation from the audience. Jae-Ho Cho was no shadow of himself and disappeared from the stage right after the break by a minus score.
Chi Yeon Cho
Quyet Chien Tran
The ranking:
1 Chi Yeon Cho 108-3.727-9
2 Quyet Chien Tran 103-3.545-11
3 Dinh Nai Ngo 31-1.727-8
4 Jae-Ho Cho -2-0.571-2.
Prize-money:
1 Dick Jaspers 50,000 dollars
2 Quyet Chien Tran 21,000
3 Semih Sayginer 18,000
4 Chi Yeon Cho 15,000
5-8: Jae-Ho Cho, Dinh Nai Ngo, Murat Naci Coklu, Marco Zanetti: 9,000 dollars
9-16: Dong-Koong Kang, Eddy Merckx, Jung-Han Heo, Frédéric Caudron, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Nikos Polychronopoulos, HaengJik Kim, Tonny Carlsen: 6,000 dollars.