Vietnam's hope to meet world number 1

Up to now, Vietnam's 3-cushion carom billiards has only one representative at the 2024 World Championship, Tran Thanh Luc. On the competition day of September 28, Tran Thanh Luc excellently won 2 victories against high-class players and had higher positions on the world rankings. Thanh Luc defeated veteran Italian player - Marco Zanetti in the round of 16 with a score difference of 50-31. Next, the Vietnamese player successfully "avenged" the debt for Tran Quyet Chien and Bao Phuong Vinh, when defeating Jeremy Bury (France).

In the semi-finals taking place today (September 29), Tran Thanh Luc will face the world's number 1 player - Dick Jaspers (Netherlands), at 1:30 p.m. This match will be broadcast live on the Afreeca TV platform (link: https://billiards.afreecatv.com/schedule).

The four players in the World Championship semi-finals. From left, they are Eddy Merckx, Tran Thanh Luc, Dick Jaspers and Cho Myung-woo.

Dick Jaspers is the ultimate challenge for Tran Thanh Luc. The Dutch player was the one who defeated Chiem Hong Thai in the quarter-finals. In this tournament, Hong Thai was in great form but still had to accept 2 losses (in the group stage and the quarter-finals) against Dick Jaspers, who was too classy and played extremely consistently.

Although Tran Thanh Luc is not rated as highly as the world's number 1 player, he has proven that he is not "afraid" of strong opponents. The Vietnamese player is also at his peak and has the advantage of playing at home. Hopefully, Tran Thanh Luc will "get revenge" for his junior Chiem Hong Thai, just like the way this player defeated Jeremy Bury to "get revenge" for Tran Quyet Chien and Bao Phuong Vinh.

The remaining semi-final will be between Eddy Merckx (Belgium, world No. 5) and Cho Myung-woo (Korea, world No. 3), at 11 a.m. today (September 29).

The final of the 2024 World Carom Billiards 3-Cushion Championship will also take place in the afternoon of the same day (September 29), at 5:00 p.m.

Detailed match schedule at the 2024 World Championship today (September 29)

Semi-final 1, 11am: Eddy Merckx - Cho Myung-woo

Semi-final 2, 1:30 p.m.: Tran Thanh Luc - Dick Jaspers

Final, 5pm: Winner of semi-final 1 - Winner of semi-final 2

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-billiards-hom-nay-niem-hy-vong-cua-viet-nam-gap-so-1-the-gioi-185240929005402413.htm