GWAJUNG – On the highest podium, the youngest billiards player from the top of the rankings shone brightly. Myung Woo Cho (27) won the World Cup in Gwangju, Korea, this Sunday and was flanked on the podium by Marco Zanetti (63), the oldest and still top-fit billiards player in the top circuit. The final of the penultimate World Cup in 2025 was dominated by the ever-smiling Korean, who has been called a prodigy since his early years, most of all in his own country. Myung Woo Cho adds to his list of achievements every year, but he still looks and beams like the endearing, shy little boy who climbs the podium. The wonder boy, the super talent, he's making it all come true in this phase where the older generation still competes magnificently at the top. Marco Zanetti was a prime example of that.
The young star and the old maestro battled for gold after Myung Woo Cho defeated Eddy Merckx in the semifinal and Marco Zanetti defeated Glenn Hofman. Cho had the best start, winning 13-6, 23-7, and 33-14, and Zanetti never gave the impression of closing the gap. The final score was 50-30 in 25/24, with averages of 2,000 for the winner and 1,250 for the runner-up. The final score, in front of a packed, enthusiastic arena, was a shower of gold shavings, bows, and exuberant laughter and waves from the winner to the spectators. It was Cho's third World Cup victory in total, after Sharm El Sheikh in 2022 and Porto in 2025. In his early career, the Korean had already won the world title once on the major circuit and three times among the juniors.
Mr. Farouk Barki, the president of the world federation, took his time during the ceremony to praise the winner, an exponent of the big Korean billiards nation, Marco Zanetti for his many years of success and fighting spirit. He also praised the two other players on the podium, Eddy Merckx and Glenn Hofman, players in excellent form and forcing their way into the top ranks.
Myung Woo Cho was the winner with a general average of 1.833, ahead of Marco Zanetti with 1.909. The best average was achieved by Eddy Merckx with 2.590, and the best match average by Glenn Hofman with 4.444. Peter Ceulemans made the highest run of this World Cup with a 19.
Semifinals
The margin in both semifinals was around ten caroms. Glenn Hofman trailed Zanetti throughout the match, catching up with a run of 12, followed by 5, extending the lead to 5 points. However, the Italian again had the better final sprint: 50-38 in 18/17, 2.778 to 2.235.
Eddy Merckx's magnificent traject, in excellent form, was stopped by Myung Woo Cho, the world champion from two years ago. Merckx and Cho were tied at 15-17 after ten innings. Cho took the lead with runs of 5 and 6, but at 46-29, Merckx had a breakaway run of 10 for a 46-39 score. The Korean finished with 4 and qualified for the final against Marco Zanetti in front of his home crowd.
Myung Woo Cho leads the world rankings with 392 points, ahead of Dick Jaspers with 386, Eddy Merckx with 348, Tayfun Tasdemir with 322, and Marco Zanetti with 306. Glenn Hofman enters the top 14 at position 13 with 192.
In the lead-up to the main tournament, Turgay Orak was the best player in the final qualifying round with 4 match points and 2,051. Former world champion Phuong Vinh Bao, Torbjörn Blomdahl, and Huberney Cataño and Roland Forthomme, among others, were eliminated in that round.
Dick Jaspers, until then the world leader, missed out on qualification for the knockouts with 16 players after finishing third behind Sergio Jimenez and Daniel Morales in 8 groups of 4. Eddy Merckx (with 3.076), Glenn Hofman (2.235), Bong Joo Hwang (2.125), Haeng Jik Kim (2.142), and Martin Horn (2.068) were the best group winners by average.
Marco Zanetti shone in the first knockouts with a 3.125 against Haeng Jik Kim. Eddy Merckx defeated Frédéric Caudron in the quarterfinals for the second time in two days in a replay of the World Championship final (50-37 in 16). Glenn Hofman was the better of Martin Horn (50-42 in 28), Marco Zanetti outplayd Tayfun Tasdemir at the finish line 40-39, and Myung Woo Cho defeated Wan Young Choi. The four remaining for the semifinals were Myung Woo Cho, Marco Zanetti, Glenn Hofman, and Eddy Merckx.
The final ranking in the World Cup in Gwangju:
- Myung Woo Cho 12-1.833-10
- Marco Zanetti 10-1,909-11
- Eddy Merckx 10-2,590-14
- Glenn Hoffman 8-2,065-17
- Martin Horn 8-2,000-12
- Frédéric Caudron 6-2,145-12
- Tayfun Tasdemir 6-1.842-9
- Wan Young Choi 6-1,642-11
- Haeng Jik Kim 6-2,056-11
- From Ly Dao 6-1.355-11
- Sameh Sidhom 5-1.731-12
- Bong Joo Hwang 4-1,919-10
- Jung Han Heo 4-1.734-12
- Sergio Jimenez 4-1,714-16
- Nguyen Chi Long 4-1,643-9
- Daniel Morales 3-1,678-11
- Jérémy Bury 3-1,666-9
- Dick Jaspers 3-1,520-10
- Nick Polychronopoulos 2-1,531-14
- Peter Ceulemans 2-1,529-19
The World Cup stage with Myung Woo Cho, the winner, Marco Zanetti (left) and Eddy Merckx and Glenn Hofman right
Myung Woo Cho for his third World Cup win
Joy after the final point and during the celebration
Marco Zanetti, a win over Glenn Hofman, a loss in the final with Myung Woo Cho
The world rankings after this World Cup
- Myung Woo Cho 12-1.833-10
- Marco Zanetti 10-1.909-11
- Eddy Merckx 10-2.590-14
- Glenn Hofman 8-2.065-17
- Martin Horn 8-2.000-12
- Frédéric Caudron 6-2.145-12
- Tayfun Tasdemir 6-1.842-9
- Wan Young Choi 6-1.642-11
- Haeng Jik Kim 6-2.056-11
- Van Ly Dao 6-1.355-11
- Sameh Sidhom 5-1.731-12
- Bong Joo Hwang 4-1.919-10
- Jung Han Heo 4-1.734-12
- Sergio Jimenez 4-1.714-16
- Nguyen Chi Long 4-1.643-9
- Daniel Morales 3-1.678-11
- Jérémy Bury 3-1.666-9
- Dick Jaspers 3-1.520-10
- Nick Polychronopoulos 2-1.531-14
- Peter Ceulemans 2-1.529-19.