IZMIR - The big champions in women's billiards feel the threat of the new generation, but they still can resist the attacks on their position. The ladies World championship enters the last day with four players left for the title, the two big favourites, Orie Hida and Therese Klompenhouwer, the Turkish champion Gülsen Degener and the only newcomer on the podium: Sruong Pheavy from Cambodia. The semi-finals bring two Europeans and two Asians to face each other: Hida-Pheavy (11.00 Turkish time) and Klompenhouwer-Degener (13.00). The most appealing victory in the quarters was Orie Hida's win over 19-year-old Bo Mi Kim: 30-28 in 27.
Therese Klompenhouwer met little resistance from Aysegul Fendi (30-16 in 30), Gülsen Degener bested one of the new stars in Turkey, wildcard player Guzin Mujde Karakasli (30-26 in 39) and Sruong Pheavy removed the last South American, Claudia Lalinde, from the tournament, 30-16 in 26 innings.
The 42-year-old Japanese Orie Hida is the oldest and most seasoned player in the last four. She won her four world titles in finals against Gerrie Geelen (2004), Therese Klompenhouwer (2006), Karina Jetten (2008) and after a stop in her her career Mi Rae Lee (2017). A fifth world title would make Hida immortal in women's billiards. Therese Klompenhouwer, the best in all her European championships, won her two world titles in finals against Yuko Nishimoto (2014) and Mi Rae Lee (2016).
Gülsen Degener has never won a big title tournament, but was the better this year of Klompenhouwer in a European ladiescup. Therefore the Netherlands could only send one player to this World championship and Turkey three instead of two. Sruong Pheavy has a clean palmares, except her second place at the Jennifer Shim tournament in New York, where she was defeated by Klompenhouwer in the final.
Which of these four stars has the strongest nerves in the finals tomorrow (Thursday) in the finals, in which the champion earns 2000 euros for the first time? Orie Hida grew in the championship after her false start (loss against Pheavy), including a victory in 19 innings and a strong final part in her match with Bo Mi Kim. The average in that game fluctuated around 1.500 halfway, after two 7-runs of both players. The match levelled to 20-20, from then, Hida was slightly the better in the last part.
Therese Klompenhouwer was not on her best in the pre-rounds (0.852), but showed her high class against Fendi. The Turkish lady was only good at the start (6-0 lead), from then Klompenhouwer dominated and ran out by 'seven' just before the break to 17-7 in 10. The Dutch was not in danger, however she couldn't hold that level until the end.
Sruong Pheavy is the dark horse in this field of final players, a fantastic player who started her career some five years ago and can be counted among the big talents of this new generation. The world would witness a small miracle if the Cambodian could beat the world champion Hida for the second time in this tournament.
Gülsen Degener is the last home player to make a shot at the title. The other Turkish, outside player, Guzin Mujde Karakasli, matched with her opponent in the quarterfinals until 14-14, then she was left behind 22-14, but still able to fight back during Degener's weak final stage. ,,I want to be world champion'', were Degeners words before the start. She shows a lot of self-confidence, but can she live up to it in front of her own audience?
Therese Klompenhouwer, hungry for her third world title
Sruong Pheavy, the dark horse in the field of final players
Gülsen Degener on her way to her first big title?
The young star player for the future, Bo Mi Kim (19) was beaten by Orie Hida