BINH THUAN - The balance is back for the final day at the World three cushion Championship in Vietnam. Two Europeans face two Asians in the golden race for the title. Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx, two routines with lots of titles, meet two players without a global title: Myung Woo Cho from Korea is the coming man on the world stage, Vietnamese Thanh Luc Tran a rising star from the homeland. The best winners in the run-up, the quarter-finals on Saturday: Merckx against Garcia 50-13 in 17 (2.941 on average). Cho against Heo 50 24 in 19 (2.632). The matches in the semi-finals on Sunday: Merckx-Cho at 11.00 in Vietnam (6.00 West Europe). Jaspers- Tran at 13.30 (8.30 in Western Europe). The final follows at 17.00 (12.00).
The ‘Houdini’ of the last few days at the World’s, Frenchman Jérémy Bury, showed character and high class against Vietnamese favorites Phuong Vinh Bao and Quyet Chien Tran, but he let his third consecutive Vietnamese opponent escape on Saturday. The finishing line was just a bit too far against Thanh Luc Tran, despite a superb final run of eight for Bury. The Frenchman came from 47-39 hopeful at 47-47, but saw his opponent finish by 3 for 50-47 in 28 in that crucial phase with big excitement from the spectators, allowing the Vietnamese to cheer one home favorite on Sunday morning to their delight.
Dick Jaspers made a 13 to make up the difference against Hong Chiem Thai and had his traditionally strong final sprint with 7. That was too much for the other Vietnamese coming-man in this tournament. Myung Woo Cho, the last Korean, overwhelmed Jung Han Heo, his compatriot with 5, 5 and 10 at the halfway stage and pulled the trigger with 4 and 7 for a final score 50-24 in 19.
And Eddy Merckx, it can’t be said often enough, has an inimitable start for days, and again facing JJ Garcia. With runs of 8, 9 and 7, the Belgian was unstoppable (29-5 lead) and could almost go on quickly to the finish line (at 50-13 in 17). How unfortunate: that the Colombian's role was outplayed at the decisive moment.
Eddy Merckx with a big smile after his strong matches
Dick Jaspers, facing the last Vietnamese player on the final day
The last Vietnamese Tran player, ready to meet the world's number 1
Knockouts with 16
The final stage at the World championship in the rounds with the best 16 went on with five Vietnamese in the arena: Quyet Chien Tran, Thanh Luc Tran, Duc Minh Tran, Hong Chiem Thai and Van Tai Nguyen. The field also included two Koreans, two French and seven players from different countries, including one South American, Colombian Jose Juan Garcia and one Egyptian Sameh Sidhom.
The Europeans were still with seven of whom three remained: Eddy Merckx, Jérémy Bury and Dick Jaspers. Eddy Merckx, already superb throughout the tournament, was the best winner of all in his match with Mikaël Devogelaere, one of the revelations at this world stage. The Belgian beat him in an extreme effort, as Devogelaere managed to make a run of 18 early on, the highest at the World championship so far. Merckx's chase was successful, thanks in part to intermediate sprints of seven, which eventually saw him win 50-39 in 18/17.
The Vietnamese stronghold lost its top player Quyet Chien Tran and was left with two out of five. Thanh Luc Tran signed for elimination of Marco Zanetti 50-31 in 20/19. Van Tai Nguyen fell victim to the scoring drive of JJ Garcia, who has been exceptionally good at this World’s, and won against the Vietnamese 50-28 in 20/19.
Two players from the home country clashed: Hong Chiem Thai was already close to the finish when Duc Minh Tran still fought back bravely to 49-48. That was the cue for Thai to make the winning carom in front of the fierce crowd: 50-48 in 29.
Dick Jaspers robbed the World championship of its last Turkish player. Tolgahan Kiraz fought doggedly to threaten Jaspers (run 10 in the 14th inning for 39-27). He came back to 41-39 in the closing stages, but then Jaspers struck again devastatingly with 9: 50-39 in 19/18.
Jérémy Bury served again after his superb battle with Bao to trip one of the Vietnamese leaders. The Frenchman, growing in the tournament, did not shy away from another stunt: Quyet Chien Tran, who was so keen to win his first world title in front of his own people, but was left without any chance: 50-35 in 26/25.
Myung Woo Cho slipped past Brian Knudsen into the top 16 (50-28 in 23/22), Jung Han Heo did the same with a win against Sameh Sidhom (50-23 in 24/23).
Jérémy Bury was too strong for two Vietnamese, but stumbled over his last opponent
JJ Garcia, great ambassador for the Colombians at the World stage
Brian Knudsen, the last Scandinavian
Marco Zanetti, the grand master showed his skills to the world
The last of the Turkish stronghold, Tolgahan Kiraz, lost to Dick Jaspers