CHENGDU – Following his world title in three-cushion billiards, South Korean Myung Woo Cho has won the gold medal at the World Games. In the final match in China, Cho defeated Egyptian Sameh Sidhom 40-22 in 16 innings. The women's title went to Therese Klompenhouwer from the Netherlands. Myung Woo Cho has been considered the world's greatest billiards talent for many years
The young Korean is now also number 1 in the Players ranking ahead of Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Quyet Chien Tran, and Marco Zanetti. At the World Games, Cho got off to a false start with a loss to Martin Horn in a group of three players and a draw against Erick Tellez from Costa Rica. In the knockouts with eight finalists, Myung Woo Cho, Jung-han Heo, Jérémy Bury, Quyet Chien Tran, Martin Horn, Pedro Piedrabuena, Tayfun Tasdemir, and Sameh Sidhom competed for the medals. Dick Jaspers, the number 1 in the rankings, was eliminated by losses to Jung-han Heo and Pedro Piedrabuena.
Jung-han Heo, the best player in the preliminary rounds with 2.287 on average, was beaten in the first knockout rounds by Cho with a 40-29 score. Martin Horn defeated Pedro Piedrabuena 40-31, Quyet Chien Tran won against Jérémy Bury, and Sameh Sidhom defeated Tayfun Tasdemir.
That led to a semi-final with a Korean, a Vietnamese, an Egyptian, and a German player. Myung-woo Cho's winning streak continued against Quyet Chien Tran in a real thriller that ended 40-39 for the Korean. Sameh Sidhom was the better of Martin Horn with 40-32. The final was a one-sided match, in which Myung-woo Cho constantly led with runs of 7 and 10 and won comfortably 40-22. Martin Horn won the battle for third place against Quyet Chien Tran 40-34.
The billiards tournament was played in the university arena of the World Games in Chengdu, where the other billiards finals were also played.
The gold medal in men's pool billiards went to Oliver Szolnoki from Hungary, who defeated Gerson Martinez from Peru 9-7 in the final. Han Yu from China won the women's final against Chezka Centeno from the Philippines 7-6.
China's Zhang Taiyi and South Africa's Jason Theron will play in the heyball final. In snooker, Xiao Guodong and Michael Georgiou will play in the men's final. Bai Yulu from China won the women's final against Narucha Phoemphul. Belgium's Wendy Jans lost the battle for third place to Ploychompoo Laokiatphong from Thailand 2-1.
The billiards players, including Dutch player Therese Klompenhouwer, will be honored tonight in the World Games athletes' village.
