Billiards Competitions Conclude with Four New Champions

The World Games billiards competitions in Chengdu, China, concluded today (Thursday). The four remaining titles went to Myungwoo Cho (South Korea / Men’s 3-Cushion), Guodong Xiao (China / Men’s Snooker), Oliver Szolnoki (Hungary / Men’s Pool), and Taiyi Zhang (China / Mixed Heyball).

Men’s 3-Cushion
South Korea’s Myungwoo Cho underlined his current dominance in 3-cushion billiards with today’s final victory over Egypt’s Sameh Sidhom.

Having already led 22–13 at the break, the world number one extended his lead to 30–21 in just a few innings. After Sidhom managed to score one more point, Cho stepped up to the table and effortlessly produced the ten points he still needed. Even before making the final point, confident that the shot would succeed, he raised his arms in celebration. All that was left for Sameh Sidhom was to offer a highly respectful congratulations for the South Korean’s world-class performance.

Final Result:
Myungwoo Cho vs. Sameh Sidhom — 40:22

Men’s Snooker
The men’s snooker final was decided only in the decider and featured moments rarely seen in the game.

In the first frame, Michael Georgiou (Cyprus) was in the lead against China’s Guodong Xiao, but Xiao managed to win the frame 1–0 by sinking the pink during the colors phase. In the second frame, Georgiou dominated with an impressive 111-point break to level the match at 1–1.

In the decider, Xiao took an early 40–0 lead, which Georgiou nearly erased with a 32-point break. The Cypriot ended his run with a fine snooker, but Xiao responded with a classic fluke — striking the red perfectly so that it rolled along the length of the cushion and dropped into the pocket.

Xiao added a few more points and left Georgiou snookered. After a brief safety exchange, Georgiou played what seemed like a perfect snooker on the brown, but to his dismay, Xiao sank another seemingly impossible shot. Shortly afterward, Xiao potted the blue for a 57–32 lead, meaning Georgiou needed two snookers on the pink. He managed one, but before he could attempt another, Xiao sank the pink to clinch the gold medal.

Final Result:
Guodong Xiao vs. Michael Georgiou — 2:1

Men’s Pool
The story of new World Games champion Oliver Szolnoki could be straight out of a movie. In the group stage, the Hungarian was practically eliminated — if his opponent Jeffrey de Luna (Philippines) had sunk the decisive 10-ball to win 9–5, Szolnoki would have had to watch the rest of the tournament from the stands.

But de Luna missed, Szolnoki staged a brilliant comeback, and won 9–8 to reach the quarterfinals. Two more 9–8 victories put him in today’s final against Peru’s Gerson Martinez, who had himself staged a comeback from 3–7 down to beat Germany’s Joshua Filler in the semifinals.

In the final, Szolnoki repeatedly held the lead, but the score was level again at 7–7. Martinez then got out of position on the four ball and was forced to play a safety. Szolnoki won the ensuing safety battle to go ahead 8–7. In the 16th rack, with the break, the Hungarian ran the table to seal a 9–7 victory and with it, the celebrated World Games title.

Final Result:
Gerson Martinez vs. Oliver Szolnoki — 7:9

Heyball
The Heyball final saw China’s Taiyi Zhang take a 2–1 lead against South Africa’s Jason Theron. The lead was short-lived, as Theron leveled at 2–2 and later again at 3–3.

But spurred on by the home crowd, Zhang pulled away from his opponent and sank the winning ball to claim a 5–3 victory.

Final Result:
Jason Theron vs. Taiyi Zhang — 3:5

Brackets / All results

All Photos ©WCBS