BLOIS - The ladies world gold goes to a Danish billiard player for the first time in history of three-cushion. Charlotte Sörensen, 41 years of age, a rising star in recent years, grabbed the world title in Blois, France, in the final against Therese Klompenhouwer from the Netherlands. The golden battle turned into a real thriller: the winning carom in front of full stands, good for the top prize of 10,000 euros, came on a score of 29-29 and after three match balls. Charlotte Sörensen, who works for the Danish taxes, wept tears with joy. ’’I could never dream of the world title,‘’ was her first reaction in the arena where she had just achieved her first, major success. ’’It was so tremendously exciting in the final, I had a big lead, but Therese, my opponent, had a great come-back. And so we went to the finish. What a victory on this wonderful world stage.‘’
Charlotte Sörensen and Therese Klompenhouwer were flanked on the podium by Karina Jetten from the Netherlands and Yén Nhi Hoâng Nguyen from Vietnam. Together with the main prize of 10,000 euros, the global title means that Charlotte Sörensen, who lives an hour from Copenhagen, will be the first to get a ticket to compete in next year's World Games held in China with a total of 11.000 athletes, where women's billiards will be organized for the first time.
The Danish owes that send-off to the won final, in which Therese Klompenhouwer, the five-time world champion, started with runs of 5 and 4 (lead 14-12), but the admirable Charlotte Sörensen came back for the first time with a run of 8 (14-14). The score remained balanced until 21-18, after which the game went to a fantastic climax. The first strike came from Sörensen with 7 for a score of 28-21. Therese Klompenhouwer, tormented and extremely confident under that tension, responded with 8 and reached 28-26. Charlotte missed, Therese also missed, the score was 29-28, 29-29 and then came the moment of glory for the Danish, new world champion.
Charlotte Sörensen started playing three-cushion only five years ago after previously playing Danish 5-pins. ’’I was tired of it and wanted to start playing three-cushion,‘’ she clarifies. ’’When there was more progression in my game, I started practice more. I have a coach, Tonny Carlsen, from whom I get lessons three times in a year, but who also coaches me on a distance. I have a match table at home, on which I try to train for an hour every day.‘’
The Danish lady had a summer in which billiards got a little less attention. ‘’I was a bit tired, the focus was gone a bit, so I wanted to get out for a few weeks. With my boyfriend and my dog, we took a holiday in a cottage in Denmark. After that, I picked up my training again. I was already incredibly happy with my win over Korean player Park and later Vietnamese Nguyen. But that I would beat Therese and become world champion, I could never believe that.‘’
Therese Klompenhouwer, who fought so wonderfully for her chances, was momentarily down from the loss after the final. ‘’I congratulated Charlotte on a wonderful final, in which we both had chances at the end. She owed her lead to high runs, I came back well, but unfortunately I fell that one point short. I will sleep very bad tonight over that missed match ball.‘’
The world podium with left to right Therese Klompenhouwer (2nd), Charlotte Sörensen (1st and champion), Yen Nhi Hoang Nguyen and Karina Jetten (3rd)
Charlotte Sörensen kisses her cue after winning the title
Charlotte Sörensen in the final match with Therese Klompenhouwer
Matches semifinals
Therese Klompenhouwer-Karina Jetten 30-22 in 21
Therese Klompenhouwer takes a shot at gold, Karina Jetten finishes with a podium spot. That was the outcome of the second semi-final match. The Dutch encounter turned out into a battle with equal chances deep into the match. Therese Klompenhouwer had to counter a small margin (22-21 down), but finished with a strong final sprint: 2, 3 and 5 for victory and the final place against Charlotte Sörensen.
The Dutch clash was played on a high level: Therese started with 9 in 4, made a five for 18-11 in 14 and Karina had an sprint in the second part of 7, bringing a 21-20 to the scoreboard.
The revenge for the Grand Prix a fortnight ago, when Karina Jetten won over Therese Klompenhouwer, was seen in the end. Therese had announced before: ’’This will be a different match than then, a World championship gives more pressure than a Grand Prix.‘’ The most seasoned player handled it best. Therese remained extremely cold-blooded in the closing stages and pulled off the much-coveted win. Karina Jetten can look back on a wonderful World performance, in which she confirmed that her level is very high for months and she has gained self-confidence. Only her eternal Dutch rival proved too strong in the last step to the final.
Therese Klompenhouwer tijdens de halve finale tegen Karina Jetten
Therese wordt gelukgewenst met haar winst door Karina
Karina Jetten op weg naar een prachtige podiumplaats
Charlotte Sörensen-Yén Nhi Hoâng Nguyen 30-15 in 32
European billiards welcomed a new world top player in the semi-finals. Charlotte Sörensen showed up the first of two finalists. The Danish is like Therese Klompenhouwer 41 years old, works full-time at the Danish tax office and has a boyfriend (Tommy) who plays three-cushion In the semi-finals, Charlotte Sörensen beat 24-year-old Vietnamese Yén Nhi Hoâng Nguyen, mother of 3-year-old daughter Sunny and champion of her country: 30-15 in 32 innings after a game in which Sörensen dominated from the start: 11-1, 13-4, 17-11, 24-15 and finally 30-15.
Charlotte's best World championship so far was in the Netherlands last year, where she made it to the top eight. This World’s was the real breakthrough. ‘’I really enjoyed this last and final day.‘’
Yen Nhi Hoang Nguyen said goodbye with a wonderful memory. ‘’The podium was my goal, I made it and I am happy with it. I hope to inspire many Vietnamese girls with this and ladies to develop further in three-cushion. Vietnam is on the way becoming a great billiard country, I hope a lot of ladies will also make it to the top in this sport.‘’
Charlotte Sörensen wint de halve finale en is de eerste finaliste
De Vietnamese Nguyen in de halve finales