LIVE SCORE
http://umb.cuesco.net/competition/info?idx=191
SOOP STREEMING & MORE
https://billiards.sooplive.co.kr/moments/match
OFFICIAL RESULTS & INFORMATION
https://www.umb-carom.org/PG344L1/Union-Mondiale-de-Billard.aspx
Ankara, June 21st, 2025.
After the qualification days 2 days of knockout matches a new Artistic World Champion is found, and his name is Rene DERICKS from the Netherlands. He took the crown in a manner which needs a real Champion.
But step by step: In the beautiful billiard arena of Turkish billiard federation in Ankara a lot of great quality matches were played during the 2 days of the knockout phase.
There were not many unexpected results in the last 16 except for one match and that was a real sensation. The reigning champion Mr. Yaman (TR) and leader of the standings with the best percentage (75.05%) after the qualifying rounds was knocked out in the first knockout round by a tough fighter, Laszlo Kun from Hungary! All other fights in the round of the last 16 were won in mostly close fights and the highest, unbelievable percentage was achieved by Erik VERVLIET (81.66%) from Belgium.
In the quarterfinals, WILMS defeated European champion Thomas AHRENS and VERVLIET knocked Baris CIN (TR) out of the race, meaning that the two Belgians are certain to finish on the podium. The other two semi-finalists are Michael HAMMEN, who defeated GUMUS Serdar (TR), and Rene DERICKS (NL), who clearly beat Laszlo Kun (HU).
In the first semi-final, the very experienced Rene DERICKS (NL) faced the best player in the quarter-final, Mr. WILMS (BE). DERICKS was always slightly ahead in this match and was able to pull out a lead in the last third of the match, which secured him a place in the final.
The second semi-final was between Frenchman Michael HAMMEN (FR) and the very strong Belgian Erik VERVLIET (BE). It was a head-to-head start and the two were evenly matched until the first break. Only close to the second break VERVLIET was 12 points ahead and could keep this distance until the end. Consequently, a bronze medal for HAMMEN and a place in the final for VERVLIET.
The final was not, as finals often are, a matter of weaker performance due to nerves. VERVLIET (BE) and DERICKS (NL) both started very well and so the match was at a very high level (70% to 80%). At the end of the 4th set, both players had 147 points and a ratio of exactly 70%. So, the decision had to be made in the last set, within the last 7 figures, and it was a thriller! From the 3rd to the last figure, the lead changed 3 times, and the very last figure could not be solved by VERVLIET but Dericks did in the second attempt. He won by 1 point! It was a heart-stopping finish!
This artistic event in Ankara provides a good reason to hold artistic championships in the coming years. At this level, artistic billiard is a discipline full of excitement, brilliant technical skills and solutions on the edge of physics. We keep you informed!
kara, June 20, 2025.
From June 18 to 19, the qualification rounds for the Artistic World Championship took place. We saw exciting matches and some surprising results in the TBF Arena and enjoyed the hospitality of the Turkish Billiard Federation
.
You find all results in detail on our website, but let’s talk about some interesting points. For example, the very strong Turks have 4 out of 5 of their players in the knockout phase. On the other hand of the 5 Mexicans, only former champion David Gonzales made it. But other countries were hit even harder. No players from Austria, Japan or Spain made the step up. Spain was particularly hard hit, with two absolute top players, CUADRADO and SANCHEZ (silver medalist at the European Championships), not making it out of the group.
The top quality of this tournament is shown by the percentages! Three of the “big guns”, YAMAN (TR), HAMMEN (FR) and VERVLIET (BE), won their group by playing well over 70% and won all matches. With one exception, all qualified players played well above 60%! This exceptional level of performance is worthy of a world championship!
The ranking of the last 16 is very clear: with one exception, all group winners have won all their matches (6 match points) and all group runners-up have 4 match points. All third and fourth-placed player in the groups have only 2 or 0 match points.
There were also some remarkable performances. The Hungarians and Belgians can boast a survival rate of 100%. Congratulations to TOTH and KUN (HU) for making it in the top 16 out of very strong groups and VERVLIET and WILMS (BE) for winning their groups! Congratulations also to the Germans, who, led by European champion AHRENS, plus SINGER and GÖPPINGER, got 3 of their 4 players into the last 16.
In conclusion, it must be clearly stated that it remains very exciting, because at this high level with so many top players, it is simply impossible to predict the further course of this World Championship.
Watch the matches via SOOP streaming and find all the results there or on UMB website.
Enjoy the show!
Ankara, June 17th, 2025.
From June 18 to 21, the Turkish Federation will once again host the Artistic World Championship in the world's only exclusive billiard venue. We saw the last years, that at this level artistic billiard is a discipline full of excitement, brilliant technical skills, and solutions on the edge of physics. An exciting, big show!!
Can the reigning champion Mr. YAMAN from Turkije defend his title? Not easy because the former champion David Gonzales from Mexico and his compatriots or the European champion Mr. AHRENS will be ready to fight. Also a group of 5 Turkish players, 4 players from Japan, the strong Spaniards (3 players) and all the best players from another countries like France, Austria, Belgium, … will be up against it. On the player list contains a lot of World and European Champions and a lot of players we know from the podiums of past Championships.
Whoever becomes the next World Champion will have to compete successfully against the world's top selection of artistic players.
The tables in Ankara are “Zeki Bilardo”, the cloth is SIMONIS 330, and the balls are Dynaspheres. You cannot ask for better material!
And don’t forget the venue were all this action takes place, the worldwide unique billiard complex of the Turkish federation in Ankara.
The 32 participants from 12 countries and 3 continents will compete in 8 groups of four to reach the knockout phase of the best 16. Please read all information upfront on our the UMB webpage under “Active Events”.
All matches can be watched on SOOP. Full results are available on the websites of CUESCO and the UMB.
Have a look and enjoy the show!
PODIUM OF ARTISTIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ANKARA 2024.
