Tran Thanh Luc claims the 2025 World Cup 3-Cushion Billiards title in a thrilling final against Turkey’s Tayfun Tasdemir.
Luc, en route to the final, overcame formidable opponents, including a semifinal victory over world number one, Dick Jaspers. His Turkish opponent, Tasdemir, also put on a remarkable performance, dramatically defeating his fellow countryman, Tolgahan Kiraz, to secure his spot in the final.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and tension. Luc initially took a slight lead, with scores of 11-10 and 15-11, eventually extending it to 26-13 in the first set.
However, Tasdemir displayed his resilience in the second set, narrowing the gap to 20-26 and continuing to apply pressure with scores of 36-40 and 38-43.
As Luc inched closer to victory with a score of 49-47, a single mistake threatened his lead. Tasdemir seized the opportunity, scoring seven straight points to level the playing field at 47-49.
Demonstrating composure, Luc, in his second wind, secured the decisive point, winning the match 50-47.
This triumph marks Luc’s first World Cup victory and solidifies his place as the third Vietnamese player to lift the prestigious title, following in the footsteps of Tran Quyet Chien and Tran Duc Minh.
The 2025 World Cup, held from February 24 to Monday, witnessed a strong field of 149 players from 28 countries. With a prize pool of €106,000 (US$110,000), the tournament stands as one of the most esteemed events in the Union Mondiale de Billard system.
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