The spectacular year 2024 got the young Korean Myung Woo Cho as the new world champion, Dick Jaspers won the World Cup cycle, David Martinez was the big star of the PBA tour and Jun Tae Kim equaled the record highest three-cushion run: 28, now held by five players. The two Vietnamese players, who became world champions for nation teams in Viersen, are continuing their rise and may call themselves the best billiard country in three-cushion in 2024. The new names to emerge on the world circuit (UMB and PBA) are Young-won Kim (17), Burak Hashas, Amir Ibraimov (16), Charlotte Sörensen, Duc Minh Tran, Thanh Luc Tran and Denizcan Akkoca. Marco Zanetti, at 62, ended the year 2024 with a glorious win in the Sharm El Sheikh World Cup. Dick Jaspers and Quyet Chien Tran both won two World Cups. One of the great champions returned to UMB: Frédéric Caudron played in the World Cups again and was already a finalist in Veghel. Denmark's Charlotte Sörensen interrupted Therese Klompenhouwer's hegemony in the Women's World championship three-cushion after Shin-Young Lee in 2023 did the same.
It was not only the year of victories for players in their sixties, Zanetti (World Cup, Sharm) and Blomdahl (European title), young teenagers such as Denizcan Akkoca, Young-won Kim, Burak Hashas and Amir Ibraimov were also in the spotlights.
The overview with month-to-month highlights in 2024:
January 12: Patrick Niessen ads another couple of titles to his already rich classical record at the Multi Championships in Blankenberge. The 58-year-old Belgian is now his country's number three in Belgian titles following Raymond Ceulemans and Frédéric Caudron.
14 January: The illustrious Ceulemans stronghold celebrates another success. Peter Ceulemans becomes Belgian champion in the final against Roland Forthomme (40-25 in 32) and receives congratulations from the all-time champion, his grandfather Raymond Ceulemans.
Peter Ceulemans celebrates his title with grandpa Raymond Ceulemans
21 January: The Masters title in the Netherlands turns into a triumph for Jean Paul de Bruijn, who beats Glenn Hofman 40-21 in 22 in the final. Jean Paul de Bruijn, who dethrones Dick Jaspers as champion, is the new leader of the national rankings and may go to the World nation Championships in Viersen with Jeffrey Jorissen.
Jean Paul de Bruijn with the trophy: the new Dutch champion
28 January: Who else but Therese Klompenhouwer grabs the Dutch title in three-cushion. It is the 17th consecutive time the queen of women's billiards crowns herself with Dutch gold: she beats Mirjam Pruim in the final.
Therese Klompenhouwer, 17th Dutch title in a row
31 January: Murat Naci Coklu achieves his first successes in PBA. The Turk not only shines individually, but also wins the team league with his HanaPay team including Nguyen Quoc Nguyen, Ga-young Kim and Ayako Sakai.
Murat Naci Coklu, first PBA successes
February 1: Spanish Colombian Robinson Morales will make his new move to the PBA and now becomes Spanish champion. He stays ahead of Alfonso and Ruben Legazpi, among others, on the final podium. Spanish billiards was dominated for many years by Dani Sánchez, who won the title no less than 22 times from 1994, he has now switched to the PBA.
February 12: Cambodian ladies star Sruong Pheavy shows her high class in the PBA tour. She wins the Welcome Savings Bank tour in the final against Jung-suk Lim and is the most successful player. The Cambodian donates much of her prize money to charity projects and schools for young children in her country.
Sruong Pheavy's high jump after her LPBA win
18 February: Amir Ibraimov (15) puts his career on the fast track. He wins a Longoni European youth event in Desio by beating another big star, Turk Denizcan Akkoca 35-26 in the final after leading 24-2 in 10 innings. Turk Burak Hazhas, who transferred to the PBA soon, finished third ahead of Dutchman Joris van ‘t Zelfden.
Four young star players with Amir Ibraimov (left) the winner, Joris van 't Zelfden, Denizcan Akkoca and Burak Hashas
2 March: Dick Jaspers and Glenn Hofman make a great start for the Netherlands in the World Cup in Bogota. The world top is under pressure in the qualifiers, because Myung Woo Cho, Marco Zanetti and Phuong Vinh Bao, the world champion, miss the step to the final rounds.
Dick Jaspers and Glenn Hofman before the start in Bogota World Cup
4 March: The older generation with Jaspers, Blomdahl and Zanetti misses the top prizes in the World Cup in Bogóta. 40-year-old Vietnamese Quyet Chien Tran is the winner ahead of Sameh Sidhom (37), Glenn Hofman (36) and Robinson Morales (46). The World Cup finally returned to Colombia, the crazy billiard country with between 1,000 and 2,000 spectators in the stands.
Quyet Chien Tran on the podium with Sameh Sidhom, Glenn Hofman and Robinson Morales
March 6: The PBA and LPBA are gearing up for the tournament that counts as the world championship in this cycle. Prize money in the men's event is 276,000 euros, and 104,000 euros in the women's. Placed for the men's final are 18 Koreans, four Spaniards (Zapata, Montes, Palazón and Martinez), four Vietnamese, Belgian Eddy Leppens and Japanese Yusuke Mori. The number 71 ranked player, Dani Sánchez, is missing, Among the women, the ranking is led by Min-a Kim, Sruong Pheavy, Ayako Sakai and Ga-young Kim.
8 March: Baris Sin (Turkey) grabs the European artistic billiards title in Ankara ahead of Frenchman Michael Hammen and Spaniard Sergio Sanchez.
March 12: Two European referees go on a promotion tour in China. Paul Brekelmans (Netherlands, 63) and Hervé Lacombe (France, 64) have been appointed by the UMB. The world federation is organizing a Masters event in Yushan city with matches and exhibitions in three-cushion, featuring players Tayfun Tasdemir, Sameh Sidhom, Haeng Jik Kim and Phuong Vinh Bao.
Dutch and French referees Paul Brekelmans and Hervé Lacomba on promotion tour in China
15 March: Therese Klompenhouwer is far from her best form at the Women's European Championships in Ankara, but eventually goes for the title. Belgium's Jaimie Buelens becomes the unexpected number two.
18 March: Korean Jae-ho Cho becomes the PBA world champion in a scintillating final against Juan David Zapata (5-4). Ga-young Kim starts her long winning streak and wins the title in the match against Bo-mi Kim. Jae-ho Cho won against Eddy Leppens in the semi-finals, Juan David Zapata wins against Semih Sayginer. The men's winner takes €140,000, the women's winner €50,000.
Jae-ho Cho, the new world champion in PBA tour
19 March: The Dutch stronghold Cues&Darts announces a huge plan with many big names: including Ruben Legazpi, Glenn Hofman, Burak Hashas and Robinson Morales. Joining them later in the year are Torbjörn Blomdahl and former top player Christ van der Smissen.
March 24: The Vietnamese's power grab in three-cushion is impressive. The Vietnamese team with Quyet Chien Tran (40) and Phuong Vinh Bao (28) becomes world champions for nation teams in Viersen this Sunday by winning in a thriller against Spain: 15-14. The Spaniards play with Ruben Legazpi and Sergei Jimenez.
Vietnamese Phuong Vinh Bao shouting for joy after he won the world title for nation teams with Quyet Chien Tran
2 April: The Germans and Turks are the big winners at the European Youth Championships in Los Alcazares, Spain. Turkey's Seymen Özbas takes the European under-21 title at 19, taking over from Denizcan Akkoca. Amir Ibraimov (16) beats Burak Hashas (35-17 in 22) among others, but loses the final to Özbas 35-29 in 34/33 innings.
2 April: Jun Tae Kim is the new Asian champion after winning the final against Haeng Jik Kim 50-44 in 33 innings. Ha-eun Kim becomes ladies' champion. Jun Tae Kim is the successor to Myung Woo Cho.
Jun Tae Kim is the new Asian champion after his win over Haeng Jik Kim
6 April: Tears of happiness at Cues&Darts' Dutch Cup win. Monique Wilkowski from the winning team cannot hold back her emotions at the award ceremony. Cues&Darts beats the team of Bousema/JBScues in the final.
Monique Wilkowski from Cues&Darts team crying tears of emotion after winning Dutch cup
16 April: The Biljart Express team, playing its last match without leader Eddy Merckx, becomes Belgian champions in the team league. Good old Martin Spoormans gets only wins in the second round, except in the last game which he loses 40-39.
17 April: The Germans with Martin Horn and Ronny Lindemann take gold at the European Nations Team Championships after winning the Scotch Double against the Netherlands with Glenn Hofman and Barry van Beers.
The Germans Martin Horn and Ronny Lindeman took European gold ahead of the Dutch Barry van Beers and Glenn Hofman
18 April: Kurt Ceulemans returns to the international front with the organization of World Cups and the World Three-cushion Championship in Belgium. There is elation in the Belgian billiard world and far beyond.
21 April: Torbjörn Blomdahl clinches his tenth European title in Ankara by winning in the final against Martin Horn 50-48 in 40 innings. The Swedish success overshadows the German deception: for the 13th time a German is in the final, never before has gold been won.
Torbjörn Blomdahl clinches European gold for the tenth time in his career
27 April: The PBA, the Korean pro league, announces three new top players leaving UMB: Filippos Kasidokostas and Robinson Morales, who had previously played for the PBA, and big Turkish talent Burak Hashas.
28 April: Burak Hashas (18) wins the European under-25 title in Salamina in the final against Frenchman Maxime Panaia (40-24 in 20 innings). With that European title, Hashas concludes his stay at UMB. He leaves for the PBA. ‘’I am looking forward to the new adventure.‘’
May 6: Dutchman Raymund Swertz proves himself the best classic player in the world in Cervera, Spain. The 35-year-old specialist wins the two European titles in 47/2 and 71/2, twice Swertz beats 58-year-old Belgian Patrick Niessen.
Raymund Swertz, second left, crowned best classic player in Cervera
13 May: Mikaël Devogelaere, besides being a former champion in the classical games, is now also French champion in three-cushion. The 40-year-old Frenchman beats Jérôme Barbeillon in the final 40-37 in 36 innings.
Mikael Devogelaere is the French champion in three cushion
19 May: Roland Forthomme (53) wins the Belgium Cup for the eighth time in his career. In the magnificent final, he beats Belgian champion Peter Ceulemans 3-2 in sets.
Roland Forthomme, Belgian cup winner for eighth time
May 26: The new Vietnamese star, after the surprising world champion Phuong Vinh Bao, is called Duc Minh Tran, unknown in the World Cups, but winner at the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh in the final against Jun Tae Kim: 50-46 in 26 innings.
9 June: The SIS stronghold in the Netherlands takes a step back with the departure of Eddy Merckx and Dick Jaspers, but still grabs the Dutch title in the Kozoom league with Merckx as the leader after winning in the final against Team Eekhoorn.
The SIS stronghold took the Dutch title for teams again
15 June: Jung Han Heo, a top Korean player for many years, can finally cheer again after winning the World Cup in Ankara. He beat then-reigning world champion Phuong Vinh Bao 50-31 in 26/25 in the final.
Jung Han Heo, World Cup success in Ankara
24 June: Eddy Merckx realizes a little miracle. The 56-year-old Belgian becomes champion with a club team five times in 1 year: with Biljart Express in Belgium, with SIS in the Netherlands, with Varde in Denmark, with Soissons in France and with Leca in Portugal.
Eddy Merckx, left, with his team Varde, taking the 5th team title in one year: in Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and France
30 June: Danish champion Varde overpowers FC Porto in the European Cup final in Porto and wins the cup.
13 July: In the stronghold of FC Porto, where he and Torbjörn Blomdahl have been front-runners for many years, Dick Jaspers wins the World Cup, his second this year. The Dutchman continues to dominate the rankings.
Dick Jaspers is the best in World Cup Porto, his second homeland
25 August: Myung Woo Cho (26) is the very best in the Survival in Seoul with a $40,000 top prize. The star Korean player beat three Europeans in the final fight: Eddy Merckx, Tayfun Tasdemir and Glenn Hofman.
Myung Woo Cho, glorious winner at the Survival
28 August: Dani Sánchez's star finally shines in the PBA, where the Spanish multiple world champion has so far been unable to shine. In his 12th appearance in the PBA, the 50-year-old Spaniard wins the Tour in Hanoi.
10 September: Ladies billiards at the World Three-cushion Championship in Blois finally compete for big prizes. For the winner 10,000 euros awaits, the number two gets 6,000, three and four earn 4,000 euros. That prize money has never before been paid in women's billiards.
September 12: At the Women's World championship, the world gold goes to a Scandinavian lady for the first time in history. Charlotte Sörensen (41) wins the final against Therese Klompenhouwer after a thriller with three match balls at a 29-29 score. The Danish wins and weeps tears of joy. Therese Klompenhouwer, Karina Jetten and Yen Nhi Hoang Nguyen (later to the PBA) stand on the podium with the champion.
Charlotte Sörensen, the new world champion in the ladies
September 15: Young Turk Seymen Özbas (19), a student at the sports academy, glories with the world title at the World Junior Championship in Blois, France. In the final, he wins over Korean Yeong Yun Jo 35-28 in 27.
29 September: The world gold, the most coveted title in three-cushion, is captured by Myung Woo Cho, the Korean super-talent. In the final, he faces a new Vietnamese talent: Thanh Luc Tran, whom he beats 50-23 in 20 innings. Myung Woo Cho was world champion three times in his junior days. Eddy Merckx is defeated by the new champion in the semi-finals.
Myung Woo Cho, the new world champion three cushion beating Thanh Luc Tran in the finals
October 26: Vietnamese Quyet Chien Tran adds lustre to the year for his country by winning the World Cup in Veghel, Netherlands. He beats Frédéric Caudron in the final 50-38 in 28/27 innings. The Belgians shine with two players at the podium: Frédéric Caudron and Peter Ceulemans. Tran Thanh Tu Nguyen is third after losing in the semi-final against Caudron.
Quyet Chien Tran op het hoogste podium in Veghel met de Belgen Frédéric Caudron and Peter Ceulemans and Vietnamese TTT Nguyen
8 November: Jun Tae Kim has the world record highest run up for grabs at the World Cup in Seoul. The Korean equals the 28 run held by Belgians Raymond Ceulemans, Frédéric Caudron and Roland Forthomme and Japanese Komori. Jun Tae Kim is in the World Cup at 12 caroms in 7 innings against Glenn Hofman and then finishes with 28. The end of the match prevents an improvement of the historic world record, which carries a €29,000 reward.
Jun Tae Kim in his World Cup match with Glenn Hofman equaled the world record run: 28
10 November: Dick Jaspers wins his second World Cup this year and his 31st World Cup in total in Seoul. The Dutchman, who also won in Porto this year, is on the podium with Tayfun Tasdemir, Myung Woo Cho and Jun Tae Kim
13 November: The PBA tour welcomes a new top young player. 17-year-old Korean Young-won Kim wins the 6th PBA tour in the final against Tae-jun Oh. Young-won Kim beats David Martinez in the semi-finals.
Young-won Kim, the new star, winning one of the PBA tours
8 December: Marco Zanetti triumphs in this year's last World Cup tournament in Sharm El Sheikh in the final against Eddy Merckx. He says in an interview afterwards that he still feels a youthful energy after many years on top. Dick Jaspers finishes equal with Quyet Chien Tran in the final standings for the 2024 World Cup cycle, but is the overall winner based on the regulations. That prize is €30,000.
Marco Zanetti won the last World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Dick Jaspers took the overall World Cup victory
10 December: David Martinez (33) wins this season's penultimate PBA tournament in the final against another Spaniard Juan David Zapata. With three PBA wins in 1 season, this is already Martinez's most successful year since coming to the PBA. In those PBA years, he earned 638,000 euros. Juan David Zapata partly steals the show by asking his girlfriend Camila in public during the ceremony to marry him.
David Martinez (right) again the best in PBA, Juan David Zapata was beaten in the final
December 10: The Koreans are nurturing their superstar in the LPBA, the women's tour of the PBA. Ga-young Kim, a former pool player, wins her fifth tournament in a row and is already 30 games unbeaten.
Ga-young Kim, the huge star player in LPBA
14 December: Denizcan Akkoca becomes the Turkish junior champion, starting with 21 and winning the final 40-1 over Selahattin Özkul.
17 December: The Dutch premier league, the Kozoom league, gets another spectacular injection of quality. Torbjörn Blomdahl, Tayfun Tasdemir and Sameh Sidhom start playing for a Dutch team.
23 December: Belgian billiards is looking forward to the Multi Championships in Blankenberge, starting on Sunday, to the World Cups and the World championship three-cushion organised by Kurt Ceulemans in the coming years.