Sameh Sidhom eliminated defending champion Frédéric Caudron, while Eddy Merckx produced the standout performance of the quarter-finals. The semi-finals will feature four different nations.
The 78th World Championship in Blois has reached its final four. The quarter-finals produced four clear winners, with Sameh Sidhom, Eddy Merckx, Tayfun Taşdemir and Phuong Vinh Bao now one match away from the world final.
Sidhom knocks out defending champion Caudron
Frédéric Caudron's title defence has come to an end.
The reigning world champion was beaten by Sameh Sidhom, who secured a hard-fought 50-47 victory in 37 innings. Sidhom averaged 1.351, while Caudron finished at 1.270, with both players recording a best run of six.
Caudron had arrived in Blois as the defending world champion, having won the 2025 title in Antwerp.
For Sidhom, the victory means a place in the World Championship semi-finals.
Merckx delivers the performance of the day
Eddy Merckx produced a superb performance against Son Jun Hyuk.
The Belgian controlled the match from start to finish, winning 50-35 in only 18 innings. His average of 2.777 was the highest of the quarter-finals, and he also produced a best run of nine. Son Jun Hyuk matched that high run but could not keep pace with Merckx's scoring.
Merckx now faces Sidhom for a place in the world final.
Taşdemir too strong for Horn
Tayfun Taşdemir continued his run in Blois with a convincing victory over Martin Horn.
The Turkish player won 50-23 in 26 innings, averaging 1.923 with a best run of eight. Horn finished at 0.884.
Taşdemir will now meet Phuong Vinh Bao in the second semi-final.
Bao completes the last four
Phuong Vinh Bao had to work considerably harder for his place in the semi-finals.
The Vietnamese player defeated Jung Han Heo 50-47 in 37 innings. Bao averaged 1.351, while Heo finished at 1.270. Bao's best run was eight, compared with seven for the Korean.
After his spectacular 50-25 victory over Roland Forthomme in the Round of 16, Bao has now reached the final four in Blois.
Four nations, two semi-finals
The remaining field represents Egypt, Belgium, Turkey and Vietnam, with two very different styles of match-up ahead.
Semi-finals
Sameh Sidhom ?? – Eddy Merckx ??
Tayfun Taşdemir ?? – Phuong Vinh Bao ??
The official tournament sheet confirms the four semi-finalists and the two scheduled pairings.
With Merckx coming off a 2.777 performance, Sidhom having just eliminated the defending champion, and Taşdemir and Bao both producing strong runs through the knockout stage, the final day in Blois promises two fascinating battles for a place in the World Championship final.