ISTANBUL - The young Korean Haeng-Jik Kim (25) soon will complete the year of his definitive breakthrough to the world top in three cushion. The overall victory in the 2017 World Cup cycle, with all the best players in the world, was the reward for a majestic year in which he won two World Cups and was crowned the 2017 winner this weekend in El Gouna ahead of Eddy Merckx, Frédéric Caudron, Torbjörn Blomdahl and Dick Jaspers. ,,I am very happy, because it is the best prize in my career. It means that I can play for the Supercup for the first time'', Kim reacted in an interview on this Sunday morning.
Haeng-Jik Kim, in his younger years four times junior world champion, won this year the World Cup tournaments in Porto (Portugal) and Cheongju (Korea). He was still threatened by Caudron for the overall win, but the Belgian failed to win the last World Cup, making Kim the final winner. Haeng-Jik: ,,We are at the end of a great year for me, nice challenges and facing the big plans that have been announced. More tournaments, more prize money. I would like to win as much as possible, of course, but we are with so many big players in the world top.''
Kozoom spoke with the 2017 World Cup winner during his six-hour stopover on Sunday morning in Istanbul, on his way from Hurghada to Korea. His last flight lasts 12 hours, then he he will back home in Incheon with his girlfriend, his young brother Tae-Kwan Kim, also former junior world champion, his parents and friends.
Haeng-Jik Kim, a real world star in three cushion now after this amazing year.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How do you look back on your last World Cup and the great victory in the World Cup ranking?
Haeng-Jik Kim: This is one of the best prizes that can be won and of course I am very happy with it. For me this is a highlight in my career. My ambition was to win, of course, when I left for Egypt, but it could go wrong, for example if I lost in the first rounds and other players won the tournament. So, I actually needed a bit of luck. I won two matches and then lost to Caudron, my last competitor. The last day was favourable for me because Caudron lost. And of course I feel very happy.
Kozoom/FB: Was the World Cup your last tournament for this year?
HJK: Not at all, still tough weeks coming up right before the new year. When I get home in Korea, one day later I leave for a city at 400 kilometres from Incheon for a ranking tournament. And one week later, another ranking, 430 kilometres from Incheon. Two important tournaments, so I try to get a good result. Because now I am around the 8th position in the Korean ranking and I do'nt want to drop further.
Kozoom/FB: Who are the leaders in the Korean ranking now?
HJK: Jae-Ho Cho is at one, then Sung-Won Choi and Jin-Pio Hong.
Kozoom/FB: Will you celebrate Christmas in Korea with your family and friends?
HJK: ,,That's impossible, no Christmas, because then I play a tournament. A bit strange, but it is like that, I have to play billiards.
Kozoom/FB: Was your friend, Sang-Jung Kim, with you in the World Cup in Egypt?
HJK: ,,No, she couldn't join me, because she was too busy. She is a teacher. Maybe she can come to a tournament next year, we try.
Kozoom/FB: How is your relationship, wedding plans, children?
HJK: Haha, no, we don't live together yet, we have no direct plans. I will try to ask her as soon as possible.
Kozoom/FB: And with your young brother Tae-Kwan, how are things for him after his junior world title in 2015?
HJK: He went for his military service two months ago, so he can't play tournaments outside of Korea.
Kozoom/FB: Did you have some talks with Glenn Hoffman in El Gouna, your big friend? And you met his wife Andrea for the first time?
HJK: ,,I always talk a lot with Glenn, we are really big friends. I already met Andrea in Bolivia. She knows that we are very close friends and that we have a lot of contact.
Kozoom/FB: How is your billiard club doing in Incheon?
HJK: ,,A bit good and a bit less, it goes well. We work with not so many people: a friend, my father and mother. And I myself between six and eight hours per day.
Kozoom/FB: What do you think of the new launched plans with many big tournaments and a lot more prize money?
HJK: For all players very, very good news, that there is a new future for us. We must be very happy with it and wait for the details.
Kozoom/FB: What was your best match if you look back to 2017?
HJK: The World Cup final in Korea, where I made the 40 points in 16 innings. For me the best match of the year, for sure because it was in my own country, a big final with a high average and also the second World Cup in a row that I won.
Kozoom/FB: The Koreans and Vietnamese haven't finished the year so well: no players in the final stages at the World championship in Bolivia and in the World Cup in El Gouna. Do you know the reason?
HJK: I really don't know. I think we need even more practice, because for now, the European players are still a bit better than the Asians.
Kozoom/FB: Who were the best three players this year in your opinion?
HJK: Caudron, Merckx and Blomdahl
Kozoom/FB: What are your wishes in billiards and for your friends for 2018?
HJK: To my friends: thanks for the support, I hope I can win even more next year. For my sponsors LG, Ventus billiards, Hanbat cues and Simonis, thank you for continuing to support me. For all my friends: I hope for a nice and healthy new year. For billiards: I hope that the prize money will go further up, that's so important for us as professional players.
Thanks, Haeng-Jik for the interview, good luck for 2018.
Haeng-Jik Kim during his last World Cup this year in El Gouna
Haeng-Jik Kim with his girlfriend Sang-Jung Kim
Two last competitors for the overall World Cup: Haeng-Jik Kim and Frédéric Caudron
The best of the World Cup season: Haeng-Jik Kim (25) from Korea