BLOIS - The Turkish billiards school, led by youth coach Ömer Karakurt, has delivered another world champion. 19-year-old Seymen Özbas won the final match over one-year younger Korean Yeong Yun Jo 35-28 in 27 innings in Blois this Sunday after a super strong tournament. The Turkish promise from Sakarya near Istanbul, a student at the sports academy, crowned the winning carom with loud cheers after the final and fell into the arms of his coach Karakurt.
The last two final players, after a final day in which Özbas won in the semi-final vs. Amir Ibraimov (35-18 in 24) and Yeong Jun Jo vs. Marcos Morales (35-19 in 23), were on the top stage of a World championship that showcased the main talents in global three-cushion. The Turkish winner even towered over the young Korean in the final.
Seymen Özbas, whose father runs a billiard club, is a member of Ömer Karakurt's training schedules, training and coaching the under-17, 21 and 25s. The young Turkish talents meet occasionally at the league centre, but are mentally trained by Karakurt by chat sessions, among other things. The coach assures: ‘’I guide the players in their lives, with school and/or work, so we are in contact very often.‘’
Seymen Özbas and Denizcan Akkoca are the most appealing talents, Burak Hashas was also among them, but switched to the PBA's Korean pro tour. The Turkish coach is also working hard for the future: at least 5, 6 under-17 players play over 0.800. Seymen Özbas's 8-year-old brother Eymen is also a young talent in the Turkish school.
The new Turkish world champion played football until he was 10, but had to quit due to injury. This year, besides becoming European under-21 champion, he also became Turkish under-21 and under-25 champion. Ömer Karakurt: Seymen has a very strong character, is a real winner.‘’
Before and during the final at the World championship in Blois, he was supported by many Turkish fans. Ömer Karakurt: ,,We asked as many as possible of the thousands of Turks living in Blois to come and support us.‘’
Seymen Özbas' reaction after winning the title: ,,I prepared very well for this World championship, because after my European title I really wanted to become world champion. It worked out, I am very happy about it. From now on it can only get even better, I won't stop, I will keep working and training very hard.‘’
Seymen Özbas is the glorious winner: the Turk took the world title
The new world champion Seymen Özbas with his coach Ömer Karakurt
The Korean silver winner Yeong Jun Jo
The final ranking (top 10) of the World Cup in Blois:
- Seymen Özbas, Turkey, 12-1,507-10
- Yeong Yun Jo, Korea, 8-1,157-9
- Amir Ibraimov, Germany, 8-1,277-8
- Marcos Morales, Spain, 6-0.970-8
- Hwa Woo Cho, Korea, 6-1,372-10
- Denizcan Akkoca, Turkey, 5-1.027-13
- Valentino Oliveto, Argentina, 5-0.958-6
- Mario Insignares, Colombia, 4-1.062-7
- Tangui Duriez, France, 4-1,232-8
- Myeong Gyu Oh, Korea, 4-1,203-7