ANKARA – He saved the best for last. René Dericks (55), a colossal, amiable billiards player from the Achterhoek region in Netherlands, became world champion in artistic billiards this Sunday afternoon in the Turkish capital Ankara. The final, winning point was a miraculous pique shot, which had to curve around an obstacle at the billiard table and ultimately caromed flawlessly against the two balls lying on the long rail. The relief, joy and realisation that René Dericks was the new world champion first brought a look of disbelief to his face, but immediately afterwards there was great happiness and joy. René Dericks from Doetinchem, the new world champion in artistic billiards, the wonderful amateur athlete, who in daily life is the owner of a painting company, has an modest track record with two national titles and 3 European podium spots ’’I trained well for this World Championship,’ he admitted. But becoming the world champion in a field with all the big players from Europe was an ultimate wish, it came as a complete surprise to the player himself and those around him.
’’I'm going for gold and nothing else,’ he had boldly predicted on his way to the final day. And when the big contenders were knocked out of the tournament one by one, the ultimate dream only came closer. This Sunday, Dericks first beat Belgian Steve Wilms in the semi-finals. The other Belgian, Erik Vervliet, knocked another big contender, Michael Hammen, out of the tournament. So, in the late afternoon on Sunday, a Dutchman and a Belgian faced each other in the final in the Turkish arena. Two players without a major title to their name, two players who had often been overshadowed by Turkish, Belgian and Dutch top players in artistic billiards. But they were very deserving of their place in the final of this World Championship.
It was neck and neck throughout the match in the battle for world gold. René Dericks led at half-time 102-93 in 17 attempts. Then it became 115-108, but shortly afterwards 120-120 and, with the finish in sight, 147-147 after a costly 10-pointer at the end of the penultimate set. The tension was raised to an absolute peak. In that last set, the score was 152-152 and 157-157, it went up and down fantastically, until René Dericks seemed to falter under the pressure. The Dutchman missed two figures in a row, allowing the Belgian to pull ahead to 166-159. Erik Vervliet only needed to make one more shot to win the title, but in all the excitement, he missed the match winner. René Dericks came within one point when the decisive shot was made. The heavy pique and the carom along the long rail. Vervliet missed three times, Dericks got the ultimate chance and scored on his second attempt.
He sank slightly to his knees, looked around in amazement, flashed a broad smile and then started cheering. The new, glorious world champion in the arena of so many Turkish specialists, in a podium battle with two feared Belgians and the Frenchman Michael Hammen.
The champion's comments, who earned 3,500 euros with his world title, unique in artistic billiards, came very quick. It was the prelude to a cascade of beautiful phrases.
René Dericks: "I still can't believe I won this title. It was extremely exciting for both of us at the end of the final. It could have gone either way, and it turned out in my favour. I made the last, the decisive, perhaps the most difficult shot of the whole spectrum. Then you might well be the deserved champion. Of course, I felt the tension in my arm during those last shots. After all, it's the world title. In such a tense situation, you benefit from a good push. I am classically trained in free game, balkline and one cushion, so my tough shots are usually good. But in artistic, you have to have your head in the right place. And to be honest, I had never felt this kind of tension before." The champion will certainly not let the world gold go to his head. ‘We are just a small club in artistic billiards, all friends, so we will just carry on as usual. I am just overjoyed with that world title. Tomorrow I will come home and go for holiday to Spain with my wife Ingrid. It's wonderful to be able to enjoy such a title afterwards.’
René Dericks is the fourth Dutchman to win world gold in artistic billiards. Jean Bessems and Frans Belderbos both won the world title once, Sander Jonen twice, the last time in 2011.
Sander Jonen, the last Dutch world champion in artistic (2006 and 2011), responded enthusiastically to his successor René Dericks. ’’He is a great champion, a player who is technically outstanding,’ said Jonen. ‘When René has confidence and feeling, he is the very best in the field. He has the best shot of all Dutch players, and once he gets going, he is unstoppable. But he has to be in the right frame of mind, as it is the case for most players in our sport.’
The champion René Dericks is speach less after his last shot
René Dericks on top, Erik Vervliet, the runner up, on his right side
Belgian runner-up Erik Vervliet, so close to the gold medal
The final standings of the Artistic World Championships (total points, percentages):
1. René Dericks 954, 67.16%
2. Erik Vervliet 1044, 71.75
3. Michael Hammen 887, 72.1
4. Steve Wilms 853, 66.80
5. Cin Baris 664, 68.03
6. Serdar Gumus 616, 63.24
7. Thomas Ahrens 568, 61.87
8. Laszlo Kun 594, 60.67
9. Haci Arap Yaman 495, 67.90
10. David Gonzalez 488, 66.04
11. Bernd Singer 440, 65.67
12. Emrah Tac 518, 65.57.