SHARM EL SHEIKH - Dick Jaspers lost the world title in three cushion to one of his main rivals ever in billiards. Torbörn Blomdahl may call himself world champion for one year, but the Dutchman is undoubtedly the number one on the world ranking. The last World Cup session in 2019 is ongoing in Sharm El Sheikh, where Martin Horn, Marco Zanetti and Jérémy Bury are Jaspers' last competitors on the road to new glory. The Italian was fabulous this second last day with two matches in 13, wins over Tasdemir and Coklu and lots of high runs. You can bet that Jaspers and Zanetti have gold in their fingers on the race to this last WC podium. Jaspers outplayed Korean Sung-Won Choi with a powerful run of 23 and a 40-points match in 8 innings (5,000 on average). The last Korean, Myung-Woo Cho was knocked out in the same round by Martin Horn. Jérémy Bury overpowered Quyet Chien Tran, the last Asian, 40-34 in 20.
Dick Jaspers is now one step away from the 2019 overall World Cup victory due to Tasdemir's loss against Zanetti. The Dutch man just needs a win over Horn to pass Tasdemir (and Merckx, before). Jaspers commented on his super run: ''I had quite a bit of luck today, because after my miss from the break, Choi immediately made six. That motivated me to correct that mistake. I have to say, there were not so many difficult positions in the run of 23, I am honest about that. On the other hand, you must be able to continue and remain in your focus. Looking back, I didn't play the best solution for the 24th. I should have played another shot.''
The matches for the semi-finals, tomorrow, Saturday, Egyptian time:
11.00: Jaspers-Horn
13.00: Zanetti Bury.
Marco Zanetti, with his partner Martina and 11-year-old son Samuel as big fans in the stands, is in a perfect form, just like Jaspers. With two wins in a row in 13 innings, in the previous round against Coklu in the quarters against Tasdemir (40-29), twice 3,076 on average, his top three ranking is certainly not in danger. Zanetti had a famous ending against Tasdemir: until 21-21, the match was tied up, in the final part Zanetti scored 10, 5 and 3 in his last 5 innings. ''I feel so happy to play my best billiards now with my partner, who has a busy job and can't visit the World Cups often, and my son who are here. The most amazing thing is that I score high runs over ten in each game, 12, 15, 15, 12 and 10. I was down against Coklu 28-17, but I still could win with runs of 10 and 12. What it is, don't ask me. I can bring more variation in my strokes, that is my feeling. And my focus is growing better and better.''
Frenchman Jérémy Bury is in the semi-final against Zanetti after a strong performance against Quyet Chien Tran: 40-34 in 20 innings. Bury's final sprint was fantastic as well: 7, 4 and 6 in his last five innings. He is on fire, watch out guys.
Dick Jaspers, 40 in 8, high run 23, ready for the final day
Martin Horn, showing his big joy to reach the last four
Jérémy Bury, facing former team mate Marco Zanetti: watch out, he's on fire
Jaspers' high run can be an indicator to show form and surely confidence. Two other high-flyers, Sung-Won Choi with 18, Marco Zanetti with 15, seemed to belong to the wreath of top favorites, however the Korean ran into an exceptional Jaspers. The Dutch star went full speed after two misses (0-8 down in two innings), a two in the fourth shot and then to a fabulous run of 23. Four times to the table again with 3, 1, 9, 2 and he was flagged. Three caroms away from his personal best run (26 run, 2001), his face showed how happy he was.
Martin Horn, his next opponent in the semis, also feels at his best since a few days, with his first group win, beating Eddy Merckx. Myung-Woo Cho passed the German at 27-24 despite Horn's early 10 (4th inning) in the quarters, but Horn showed mentally to be the strongest at the end: 40-36 in 20.
The best sixteen, 1/8th finals:
Myung-Woo Cho-Torbjörn Blomdahl: 40-20 (20)
The junior world champion beats the real world champion by double digits. The attack is made after a first half in balance (18-17 in 11). Then, Blomdahl faces a block and ends with five misses in the last five innings. The Korean benefits optimally and finishes with 2-4-2-4. High runs on the royal gala: 5 Blomdahl, and 4 Cho.
Myung-Woo Cho
Tayfun Tasdemir-Eddy Merckx 40-37 (27)
The battle with major interests for the 2019 World Cup cycle ends in a thrilling finish. Tasdemir has the better start, Merckx is never far away. From 11-5 it wents to 20-15, 29-28 and a tie to the finish (36-36). "I made a very good shot for 37-36, but was not rewarded," Merckx looks back later. Tasdemir answered with four and wins the match.
Quyet Chien Tran
Dick Jaspers-Juntae Kim 40-25 (25)
The attack from the Dutch man in the 10th inning with 13 decides the game, which means the end of this Korean's adventure. Jaspers runs out to 23-13 (10 innings), the match has a tame final phase with many 0, 1 and 2 scores. Jaspers keeps on his lead and wins comfortably.
Dick Jaspers
Martin Horn-Semih Sayginer 40-30 in 19
The German sprints out rapidly to 15-3 and keeps his opponent at a short distance throughout the match. Sayginer comes close at the point of 12 innings, 27-22, but is almost invisible in the final part. From 27-22, it turns out to 35-27 first. The Turk misses seven times in his last twelve innings, the German finishes with a solid five. At 40-30, Semih misses from the spots.
Martin Horn
Sung-Won Choi-Trung Hau Do Nguyen 40-23 in 19
The Korean ex-world champion demonstrates his top form again, with 17-3 in 4 innings (6 and 8), the break at 20-11 in six and then an unchallenged finish. Three attemps for a short sprint in between with twice 6 and once 8 give Choi an unthreatened finish against another of those Vietnamese on the rise.
Marco Zanetti-Murat Naci Coklu 40-30 (13)
The rare score course, with 21-11 in 8 for Coklu after six innings, suddenly takes its turn when Zanetti furiously starts the attack. In his last five innings, the Italian starts his dive to the finish with a sensational 10, 5, 0, 12 and 1. How strong and wonderful Coklu's game may be, he can't resist unstoppable Zanetti.
Marco Zanetti
Quyet Chien Tran-Peter De Backer: 40-33 (30):
History seems to repeat itself: Peter De Backer defeated Tran in his homeland in Blankenberge and again has the much better start. At a score of 20-10 and 27-17 in 16, the Belgian loses his way and the Vitnamese, after a long, lesser period of scoring, springs to life first. And how!! At 33-23, he closes the match with 10 and 7 in the 29th and 30th inning.
Quyet Chien Tran
Jérémy Bury-Jung-Han Heo 40-24 (14)
The Parisian jumps out of the blocks without allowing Heo a chance to counter. The great attack with 12-0-8-0-7, a relentless score, sets the board at 27 in 5 innings. That gives Bury an early way to knock-out the Korean. The small hick-up in the final phase is broken by the run of four to the finish.
Jérémy Bury