NEW YORK - Two great champions were surpassed at the Carom Cafe in New York by a young, 18-year-old Korean new kid on the block in ladies billiards. On the final day of the Jennifer Shim tournament, Jieun Han both faced Therese Klompenhouwer and Orie Hida, two top ladies that together won seven world titles. The outcome was sensational: Jieun Han first defeated Orie Hida (30-24 in 31) in the semi-finals and in the final the current world champion Therese Klompenhouwer 30-28 in 31. The crowd in the New York stands and live on Kozoom witnessed a new star on the firmament: very polite, humble, a true dare devil at the table, cold-blooded in the finals. And like most Koreans, she demonstrated a wonderful stroke technique.
The attack playing was her best weapon, even she took some risks in the final part of her matches, but it ultimately yielded the full return. The winner, who still has a zero victory list and is sixth on the Korean women's ranking, first forced Orie Hida to surrender in the last innings and then aimed for the top prize against Therese Klompenhouwer. The Dutch, multiple champion already concluded before the final: she plays a fantastic tournament. The final win was a well deserved victory for the player who is teached three cushion in her country by the rather unknown Dongryong Kim.
Jieun Han first finished group winner with the maximum 14 match points, 0,825 and the best run of the entire tournament: 11. In the best eight, Han defeated her compatriot Huynji Yong 30-17 in 33 innings and in the semi-final she attacked from 23- 23 against Orie Hida. In the final, Klompenhouwer had the slightly better start (6-2 in 3), but after 9-9, Han was the best in the middle part with runs of 5 and 6 for a 23-17 lead in 22 and finally, Klompenhouwer's come-back with 3, 5 and 2 (28-28), Han finished with the decisive two points. On average, the Dutch was by far the best player of the tournament: only in the final Therese remained below 1 average.
The podium was mainly coloured Asian with the Korean as the champion and two Japanese ladies in third and fourth place. Therese Klompenhouwer lost the title that she took in the last two tournaments in New York.
The Dutch world champion complimented the winner afterwards: ‘'She is a great talent of whom we will see and hear a lot in the future. I played a good tournament myself, but unfortunately the final was my worse match. Luckily, I managed to play without pain in my neck, which I suffered for a few months. I am now preparing for the World championship in Valencia, where I hope to defend my title."
The winner Jieun Han with the trophy, awarded by 3000 US dollars
Therese Klompenhouwer and Jieun Han shake hands before the final
Jieun Han (right) with her friend and player Hyunji Yong after her victory
The final four in New York: left to right Orie Hida, Therese Klompenhouwer, Jieun Han and Yuko Nishimoto
The final eight: Orie Hida, Therese Klompenhouwer, Jieun Han, Yuko Nishimoto, Ester Park, Hyunji Yong, Ayako Sakai and Jackeline Perez
Semi-finals
Ji-Eun Han-Orie Hida 30-24 (31)
18-year Ji-Eun Han did not back away for the reputation of the four-time Japanese world champion in the final part of the match. The two players, with a 26-years difference in age, went straight to 11-11 in 11. Hida still led 19-17 in 16, but lost her rhythm and way towards the finish. The Korean went on scoring regularly, the Japanese missed seven times in her last ten innings. Therefore, Ji-Eun Han was able to run slightly to 27-23 in 27 and finally 30-24 in 31.
18-year Korean Ji-Eun Han on her way to her first New York final
Orie Hida, beaten in the finals by Ji-Eun Han
Therese Klompenhouwer-Yuko Nishimoto 30-18 in 25
The match seemed to turn out into a walk-over when the Dutch led 20-1 after 15 innings. 45-year-old Japanese, one year older than Orie Hida and twice silver medal winner at the World championship in 2014 and 2016, fought back with a nice run of eight, which ended after an unnecessary miss. The 20-9 score brought back some tension. However, the world champion didn't allow here opponent many chances. The match was finally decided in the 25th inning, 30-18.
Therese Klompenhouwer, big margin after the start, solid win in the semi finals
Yuko Nishimoto, twice silver medal winner at the Word's, out of chance against the current champion
The final ranking in the Jennifer Shim (Verhoeven Open) ladies:
1 Jieun Han (Korea), 3000 US dollars
2 Therese Klompenhouwer (Nederland), 2000 US dollars
3 Orie Hida (Japan), 1000 US dollars
4 Yuko Nishimoto (Japan), 1000 US dollars
5-8:
Ester Park (USA)
Hyun Ji Yong (Korea)
Ayako Sakai (Japan)
Jackeline Perez (Peru).
Two young Korean talents, Bora Kim and Jieun Han and American players Ester Park (left) and Alina Shim