Vietnamese billiards player wins first world title in Turkey

Updated: 18:28, 03/03/2025

Billiards player Tran Thanh Luc defeated Turkey’s Tayfun Tasdemir 50-47 in the Three-Cushion World Cup final in Bogota, securing his first-ever title win and Vietnam's dominance at the tournament.

The final was an intense battle. At one time, Luc led 49-40 but struggled to close the match, allowing Tasdemir to mount a seven-point streak, closing the gap to 47-49.

Vietnamese billiards player Tran Thanh Luc.

However, a narrowly missed shot by the Turkish player gave Luc the chance to finish the game. He capitalized on the opportunity, scoring the decisive point to seal the victory after 36 turns in the match on Monday morning.

Luc became the third Vietnamese player to win a Three-Cushion World Cup title, following Tran Quyet Chien and Tran Duc Minh. His victory continued Vietnam's dominance in the past two years, with five titles in the last 12 World Cup tournaments, more than any other nation during this period.

Despite his triumph, Luc celebrated with humility, raising his hands to the sky with a smile as the crowd at Palacio de Los Deportes applauded him. Tasdemir, despite his loss, congratulated the Vietnamese champion with a hug.

On the podium, Luc bowed to thank the audience, who supported him throughout the tournament. Fellow Vietnamese player Bao Phuong Vinh, despite an early exit in the group stage, remained at the venue, waving the national flag and singing the anthem alongside the new champion.

Luc, 34, is currently ranked 11th in the world and second in Vietnam behind Chien. His title in Bogota is expected to propel him into the world's top five for the first time, though he remains behind Chien in domestic rankings.

Tasdemir, 49, is ranked 10th in the world and has won multiple world titles, including five team championships, three World Cup titles and one World Championship.

In three-cushion billiards, the World Cup is held seven times a year, while the World Championship takes place once a year.

Before the final, Luc eliminated world number one Dick Jaspers with a 50-37 victory after 27 turns in the semifinals. This was not Luc’s first upset against Jaspers as he defeated him 50-32 in the 2023 World Championship semifinals but lost to Cho Myung-woo in the final. This time, however, Luc secured the title.

Luc’s triumph also made Vietnam the fifth country to have at least three players win a billiard World Cup, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and South Korea.

First held in 1986, the World Cup has been contested 207 times. Sweden’s Torbjorn Blomdahl holds the record with 46 titles, while Chien is Asia’s most successful player with four.