Netherlands with golden team to world title

VIERSEN - The Dutch team with Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn captured world gold at the World three cushion championships for national teams in Viersen, Germany. The two Dutch players, aged 59 and 60 and long-time friends, caused a sensation in the World final by subduing Vietnam, the reigning champion and the new global billiard country. Brabant player Dick Jaspers won his match against Quyet Chien Tran 40-38 in 21 innings, while Zeeuw player Jean Paul de Bruijn beat Phuong Vinh Bao, the 2023 world champion, 40-34 in 28. The Netherlands had beaten the Turkish team in the semi-finals on Sunday. Vietnam reached the final by a win over Belgium. 

For the Netherlands, this is the fourth title in the long history of this Nations World championship. Dick Jaspers won twice with Raimond Burgman, once with Jean van Erp and now for the first time with Jean Paul de Bruijn. The joy afterwards was intense: the two players embraced each other for minutes in the arena and were exuberantly congratulated by friends and supporters moments later. The tournament got a wonderful ending in the great German billiard hall. Jean Paul de Bruijn finished his match against Bao first, followed by Dick Jaspers going through the finish. The Vietnamese opponents both had one more shot to equalize, but were unable to upset the success. The Netherlands was world champion, a fantastic achievement by the players of whom Jaspers is absolute world number one and De Bruijn can beat all world top guns in his best days.

The team strength and never-ending fighting spirit in the winning pair, coupled with the great class of the two players was Holland's strength in this tournament. Dick Jaspers was not yet in top form in the preliminary stage with draws against American Piedrabuena and Egyptian Sidhom, but both times Jean Paul de Bruijn was the saving grace: with his two wins, the Zeeuw was able to quickly promote the Netherlands to the knock-outs.

The Netherlands went to a draw against Spain in the final game of the group and then faced South Korea, a world nation in the field of three-cushion, in the first knockout round. Dick Jaspers won against current world champion Myung Woo Cho, who lost all his four games at this championship, Jean Paul de Bruijn lost to Heo and in the Scotch Double, the Netherlands won 15-11. That led the team first to the semi-finals against Turkey and finally to the scintillating final against Vietnam.

The Orange team qualified for the final by winning in the Scotch Double (extension) against Turkey. Jean Paul de Bruijn won his regular match against Turk Kafusiz 40-26 in 22, Dick Jaspers lost on the other table to Berkay Karakurt 40-32 in 20 innings.

In the Scotch Double, the Netherlands dominated, but Turkey came back from 3-7 behind to 9-9. From that equal score, the Netherlands attacked to 13-9 and two innings later with a superb match ball by Jean Paul de Bruijn to 15-11.

The Vietnamese reigning world champion with Quyet Chien Tran and Phuong Vinh Bao beat the two Belgians Peter Ceulemans and Roland Forthomme in the semi-finals. Ceulemans was without a chance against Tran 40-20 in 24, Forthomme came slightly closer but could not stop Bao, a multiple winner in this tournament: 40-28 in 20.

The four teams on the podium were the Netherlands, Vietnam, Turkey and Belgium. The top prize for the winners 8,000 euros.

Joy after the final match in the Dutch team

The podium with the Dutch winners, Vietnam, Belgium and Turkyie