VEGHEL - On the World Cup podium in Veghel tomorrow (Saturday) will be two Belgians and two Vietnamese. Two Europeans from the country of Raymond Ceulemans and two Asians from the new, promising billiard country battle it out on the final day for World Cup gold to succeed Dick Jaspers, last year’s winner and the last Dutch player in this fifth and, for now, last World Cup from a Dutch organizer. Jaspers himself was eliminated on Friday by one of the improbably strong Vietnamese in the final field. Frédéric Caudron and Peter Ceulemans for Belgium are in the finals with Vietnam's Thanh Luc Tran and Quyet Chien Tran. Caudron will play against Tien Thanh Tu Nguyen at 10.30am, Ceulemans against Quyet Chien Tran at 13.00.
The supremacy of the Belgians, who soon lost Eddy Merckx, their best man in the world rankings, is spectacular and good for European billiards. Frédéric Caudron is definitely back. He demonstrated that on Friday first in his match with Myung Woo Cho, the world champion, and later against Tayfun Tasdemir, one of the stars of this World Cup. Peter Ceulemans, for whom the all-time champion, grandpa Raymond Ceulemans, was in the stands, made it to the semi-finals in a World Cup for the second time. In 2014 in Porto, Forthomme was also his opponent, then Ceulemans lost. Forthomme and Ceulemans also played the final atthe Belgian championship this year. Then Ceulemans was the winner.
According to the World Cup results, Frédéric Caudron has been unbeaten in a Dutch World Cup for a long time. The Belgian played his last World Cups on Dutch soil in Sluiskil in 2008 and 2009. He won them both in finals against Nikos Polychronopoulos and Jef Philipoom. Also from history: Raymond Ceulemans last stood on a World Cup podium in 1999, when he finished third in Oosterhout (winner Jaspers).
The Vietnamese shone on the early evening of this World Cup with TTT Nguyen showing his class against Dick Jaspers. The Dutch phenom, the world's most regular player, was defeated in the quarter-finals by a stunning Tran Thanh Tu Nguyen (50-33 in 14 innings) after a match that spectators thoroughly enjoyed. The match was watched on the World Cup's streaming platform by 18,000 viewers around the world. The Vietnamese, called TTT in billiard circles, made a run of 14 in the match against Jaspers, Jaspers replied almost immediately by 15. Nguyen made another 9 (score 34-28) moments later, and to finish 5 and 6 for the final score of 50-33.
Dick Jaspers had nothing but praise for the organisation and his colleagues after his elimination. ’’The level in the world has risen tremendously,‘’ he summed up the World Cup in Veghel so far. ’’The return of Frédéric Caudron is important for all of us. He is currently the best in the world, even though I am first in the world rankings. But I love the fact that Caudron can live up to all the high expectations here.‘’ Jaspers also noticed that the Asians, improbably strong in this World Cup, are a major reason for the enormous progression in three-cushion. ‘’We see almost unknown, young players coming from the Asian countries. They are fantastic players. They practice a lot, for hours a day, give billiards new impulses and make it incredibly difficult for us. I lost to such a young player tonight, quite rightly. And I can only say: congratulations.‘’
Frédéric Caudron, one round earlier the conqueror of world champion Myung Woo Cho, faced another tough mission. The Belgian was paired with Tayfun Tasdemir, good for 3,500 on average in his previous match and specialist in high runs. Caudron's start with 7 and another 7 a few innings later gave him a lead. The Turk had a small margin, when Caudron unleashed his devils with runs of 9 and 8 and 6 moments later for a 47-29 lead. Tasdemir made one more counterattack with 9 and 4, but Frédéric Caudron coolly finished with 3 for the final score 50-45 in 25.
Peter Ceulemans had the better start against Roland Forthomme in the last evening session of the quarter-finals, going into the break 28-19. The second part was dominated by Ceulemans, who distanced himself with 8 and 6 from his opponent. Forthomme could not score anymore in the last five innings (50-30 in 29).
Quyet Chien Tran, best winner so far with a 40 in 9 match, showed his routine against Thanh Luc Tran, the coming man in Vietnamese billiards. One Tran (Quyet Chien) put the other (Than Luc) on a 10-point margin, among others with 31-20. High runs did not come out in the clash of compatriots. Quyet Chien Tran finished 6 and 1: 50-33 in 30 innings.
Peter Ceulemans showing his joy after beating Forthomme to his grandpa in the stands
Frédéric Caudron, long time not beaten in Dutch World Cups
Vietnamese TTT Nguyen in the final rounds to play Frédéric Caudron