The world and Europe gold are for Charlotte Sörensen

AARHUS - Charlotte Sörensen's world title was already a big sensation, with the European title, in her own Denmark, the Danish billiard star has permanently launched herself among the world's best. For many years, the queen of three-cushion was called Therese Klompenhouwer with all those titles the Dutchwoman conquered in a row. That hegemony has suddenly disappeared. 42-year-old Charlotte Sörensen crowned herself European champion this Saturday after 11 unbroken championships won by Therese Klompenhouwer. That feels unreal. The European win was even more impressive than the World’s victory. Then Sörensen won 30-29 after four match balls, now she triumphed with a generous lead: 30-19.

The new Danish world player cheered as exuberantly as last year in Blois, France. ’’I can only enjoy it much more and with many known people,” she told half an hour after winning the final. ’’When I took the world title, very surprisingly, I was almost on my own. Here I’m enjoying much more intensely, my mother sees me win a medal for the first time, the Danish fans are witnesses, my friends, this is a championship that gives me tremendous satisfaction and joy. I’m going to celebrate it very differently than I did then in France: with friends now, people from the federation, referees and other acquaintances we’re going to have dinner tonight, it’s gonna be a wonderful evening.''

Charlotte first took the time to tell how she experienced the final. ''I had a better start than Therese, was always able to stay ahead by five to 10 points, Therese came back very briefly, but the lead was never in danger. Mental strength helped me to excel in this final. It’s always my strong weapon, that has now brought me victory in my homeland as well.''

Therese's successor, who only started playing three-cushion six years ago, is amazed at the rapid progression. ''I surprised myself: first with that world title, I never expected that. But now the progression is more visible, I was playing some good matches towards the final, similar to what Therese showed.''

The dethroned champion admitted that: they both grew in the tournament. The European championship was actually a battle between two players: there was hardly any competition, the differences were huge. Therese congratulated the new champion: ’’I just didn't get into the final match very well, Charlotte defended well and I just didn't have a run. For me, everything was skewed and difficult and she just kept making little runs.''

It's almost miraculous after so many titles. ’’I've lost them all now,”' Therese realizes. ''The Dutch, the European and the world title, all in one year, I never expected that. But I will make sure I get physically stronger again to take back some titles.''

Charlotte, who has grown tremendously with her refined stroke, tactical ability and mental strength, started in Aarhus with wins against Le Bruyn and Krasova without any threat at all. The knockouts gave the European Championships even more of an image of two players against all. Therese Klompenhouwer beat Sweden's Yenny Bajtner 30-4 in 31, Charlotte won 30-16 against Katja Titze, in her only, very mediocre match. The quarter-finals were again one-way matches. Therese against Werdekker was 30-16, Charlotte against Jetten 30-14. The semi-finals were a walk-over, especially for Charlotte, who won against Jaimie Buelens 30-4 in 19. Therese beat Karakasli 30-18 in 22.

The final looked to be a battle of even odds, but Charlotte abruptly ended the hegemony of the 11-time European champion. The match was not as high-class as the two semi-finals, in which Sörensen played 1.578 and Klompenhouwer 1.363. The European gold rolled into Sörensen’s reach with 30-19 and 1.034, Klompenhouwer remained far from her usual level with 0.678. Women's three-cusshion has a successor to Therese: Charlotte Sörensen can call herself the best in the world and the best in Europe for at least one year.

The final ranking at the Europeans for ladies:

1. Charlotte Sörensen 12-0.923-7
2. Therese Klompenhouwer 10-1.096-7
3. Guzin Mujde Karakasli 8-0.684-7
4. Jaimie Buelens 7-0.538-4
5. Daisy Werdekker 4-0.544-4
6. Karina Jetten 5-0. 661-5
7. Monique van Exter 6-0.604-5
8. Steffi Träm 6-0.550-5
9. Danielle Le Bruyn 2-0.553-5
10. Gülsen Degener 2-0.527-7
11. Nanna Petersen 2-0.453-4
12. Litsa Mavridoglou 2-0.648-6

The podium with Charlotte on top

The final players with the referees

Charlotte's joy with the trophy