02/09/2016
BURSA – The matches between Dutch and Belgian sportsmen have become famous in the glorious years as the derby of the lowlands. Dick Jaspers and Frédéric Caudron, world class players in billiard, battled on Sunday in the World Cup in Bursa for the always prestigious classic in three cushion. The 50-year-old Dutchman triumphed in the first 2016 World Cup: 40-34 in nineteen innings.
Dick Jaspers also could look back at a remarkable moment and later took the winning crown. The Dutchman started the World Cup in Bursa against Lütfi Cenet and escaped when his opponent missed three match points in the first match. Jaspers showed his renowned fighting spirit, won the match on character and then was unstoppable on his way to the overall win.
He was victorious against the Korean Hyung Bum Hwang (40-16 in 21), Belgian Roland Forthomme in the best match of the tournament (40-13 in 8, 5.000 of average), Pedro Piedrabuena (40-38 in 20) and finally against his Belgian rival Caudron.
That match in the Ataturk centre was a nerve-wrecking battle to the half way point: 14-13 in seven, 27-26 in twelve innings. Jaspers made the gap with an attack, a run of ten in the twelfth inning, to run out to a 37-26 lead. He left his opponent five more chances to come back into the game, but then finished himself at 40-34 in the 19th inning.
The victory was the 22nd in a World Cup for Dick Jaspers, his third in Turkey, where he also took the European title in 2003. , The audience always makes atmosphere in Turkey with full stands, television, so it was a wonderful event.
Text in cooperation with Frits Bakker.
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