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Viersen, March 16th 2025.
The Netherlands beat and succeed Vietnam.
No Scotch Double was needed to decide the final, two regular matches were sufficient. But the closing match of the World Championship for National Teams in Viersen did not lack in excitement. Jaspers won a close contest with Quyet Chien Tran (40-38 in 21) and Jean Paul de Bruijn stayed ahead of Phuong Vinh Bao (40-34 in 28). That means the title holder of 2024 will have to wait for a repeat. For the Netherlands, this is their fourth world crown, after 1998 (Jaspers / Burgman), 1999 (Jaspers / Burgman) and 2015 (Jaspers / van Erp).
Two players born in the year 1965, de Bruijn and Jaspers grew up in the sport together, as free-game and balkline playing juniors. Jaspers went on to put a big mark on the 3-cushion game, he’s obviously one of the all-time greats. De Bruijn excelled in 1-cushion even more than 3-cushion; he and Frédéric Caudron are on a level of their own in that tough discipline. JP has had the inexplicable “bad day at the office” from time to time in his career, but not so this week in Viersen. He was solid as a rock.
The Sunday started off with two high-quality semifinals. Vietnam disposed of the two very capable Belgians, making the most of every scoring opportunity. Tran beat Ceulemans 40-20 in 24, Bao got past Forthomme 40-26 in 20. Still, it was the best result for Belgium since the legendary four-year winning streak of Merckx and Caudron (2012-2015).
Turkiye is one of the most successful countries in the history of this event, so the Dutch were forewarned. Jaspers played Berkay Karakurt, who has now reached a level where he can beat anybody on a good day. It ended 40-32 in 20 to the Turk, who countered Jaspers’ run of 12 with two sevens and an eight of his own. De Bruijn beat Kapusiz 40 – 26 in 22 to restore the balance, with the Netherlands eventually winning the SD shootout.
The best team average in Viersen was played by Vietnam: 1.642.
The event’s high run was made by France’s Jeremy Bury: 15.
Next event on the UMB calendar: the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City, from 19-25 May 2025
U.M.B.
Viersen, March 15th 2025.
Four of the best 3-cushion countries in the world have made it to the semifinals of the World Championships for National Teams. Vietnam, Turkiye, the Netherlands and Belgium will decide about the world title tomorrow.
The first of the quarterfinals was a clear-cut win by Belgium over the USA. Peter Ceulemans was much more efficient with his chances than Pedro Piedrabuena, and it showed: 40-21 in 23. Roland Forthomme beat Hugo Patino, also rather comfortably: 40-30 in 31.
The results were similar between Vietnam and Mexico. The Vera / Hernandez duo couldn’t make a fist against Tran and Bao, no shame in that. Mexico played great in Viersen on day one and two, and they can be proud. Tran beat Vera 40-28 in 23 and Bao got past Hernandez 40-14 in 16. The 2023 world champion has not lost a match yet in Viersen.
More heat and tension in the other two quarterfinals: both the Netherlands and Turkiye needed a Scotch Double 15-point extension to beat their opponents, Korea and Germany respectively. Cho lost to Jaspers, 40-28 in 28, Heo beat de Bruijn 40-33 in 25, with a closing run of 8. In the SD, the Dutch were behind but their comeback was excellent: 15-11 in 7. Jung Han Heo played a formidable event, but his teammate Myung Woo Cho was struggling all week.
Berkay Karakurt and Martin Horn met for a second time this tournament, and again the Turk had the edge: 40-38 in 23. Ufuk Kapuzis lost to Ronny Lindemann again, 40-20 in 31. The Scotch Double went smoothly for the Turks: 15-7.
In tomorrow’s semi’s, Belgium will play Vietnam at 11.00. The Netherlands versus Turkiye is scheduled for 13.00, and the final is expected around 16.00. All matches streamed on Soop.
Viersen, March 14th, 2025
Two of the four groups in the World Championship for National Teams are still undecided. Tomorrow’s last group matches will be crucial. In Group C and D, all matches have been played. The Netherlands are the first country through to the quarterfinals, and they are joined by the USA. Sweden just came up short in their race against Belgium and title holders Vietnam.
Group A. Turkiye and Germany lead, both with a win and a draw, but they are far from certain to advance. A loss in the third and final match could be the end for both. Germany has the advantage: Horn and Lindemann will play Portugal, which has not shown much form so far. Turkiye take on dangerous Colombia.
Group B. Korea always looked like a likely winner of Group B, but world champion Cho’s two losses have shaken up the group. Mexico is currently in the lead, with a match against Japan still to go. Korea will play France (Bury and Devogelaere), and that will be a must-win match for Myung Woo Cho and Jung Han Heo.
Group C. Jordan was outmatched in this group, so of the three strong contenders Belgium, Vietnam and Sweden, one had to go. Sweden caught the short straw, even though Torbjörn Blomdahl brought home two wins and a draw. Tough group, where none of the top players managed to win three times. In the end, Belgium (Ceulemans and Forthomme) and Vietnam (Quyet Chien Tran and Phuong Vinh Bao) advance.
Group D. Disappointment for Spain, that did so well in this event in 2024. This time, Jimenez and Legazpi produced three draws, which was not good enough. The Netherlands (Jaspers, de Bruijn) safely win the group, USA (Piedrabuena and Patino) get second place to advance. Spain and Egypt are out.
On Saturday, the remaining group matches will be played, as well as all four quarterfinals. Play starts at 11.00 local time.
All streams available on Soop.
Viersen, March 13th, 2025
He must be considered a favorite, because he’s the world champion. Still, Myung Woo Cho was beaten by Mexico’s seasoned player Javier Vera today. Cho’s teammate Jung Han Heo restored the balance against Christian Hernandez.
The top countries have not stumbled yet, but 3-1 seems to be the popular result of the day. That means a win and a draw, and any 3-1 could so easily have been a 2-2.
Group A.
Turkiye just about demolished Portugal with a 40-19 and a 40-8. Host country Germany had to work hard for a 3-1 against Colombia, finalist here in 2022. Horn beat Catano 40-32 and Lindemann drew with Gonzalez.
Group B.
Vera can be proud of his 40-25 in 19 against Myung Woo Cho. Heo beat Hernandez 40-31 in 30. Another 3-1 between France and Japan, last year’s surprise semifinalist. Bury beat Umeda; Devogelaere and Miyashita drew in 43 innings.
Group C.
No problems for the defending champions Vietnam, against Jordan. More tension between Sweden and Belgium, both multiple winners in Viersen. Blomdahl drew with Ceulemans in 34, Forthomme beat Nalle Olsson 40-33 in 36.
Group D.
Piedrabuena draws with Jaspers and Patino gets close against de Bruijn, but it’s the Netherlands that take the 3-1 win over the USA. Egypt and Spain end 2-2, thanks to a surprise win by Samer Kamal over Sergio Jimenez. The Netherlands also get past Egypt 3-1, with another draw by Jaspers (against Sidhom). The USA draws 2-2 against Spain, Piedrabuena winning for the USA and Jimenez for Spain.
The tournament continues tomorrow at 11.00 local time. All matches are streamed on Soop.
Viersen, March 10th, 2025
The picturesque city of Viersen, near the border with the Netherlands in middle Germany, is the traditional host for the UMB World Championship 3-cushion for National Teams. The event has been played since 1981, in Viersen’s Festhalle since 1990. From 13 – 16 March, the title is again at stake, with Vietnam (Quyet Chien Tran / Phuong Vinh Bao) as the defending champion. The same two players will defend Vietnam’s colors in 2025.
The yellow-star red flag will start as one of the favorites, but the field is exceptionally strong. Sweden (again with Torbjörn Blomdahl and Michael Nilsson this year) are the record holders in titles (9), with Turkiye not too far off (7). The Turks will show up with Berkay Karakurt and Ufuk Kapusiz, Tayfun Tasdemir is listed as a reserve. Both Germany (Martin Horn and Ronny Lindemann this year) and Belgium (Peter Ceulemans and Roland Forthomme are selected) have won here four times. The Belgians had a four-year winning streak in Viersen with the invincible combo Merckx / Caudron. You should not bet against the Netherlands (Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn) or Korea (Myung Woo Cho and Jung Han Heo). Spain (Ruben Legazpi / Sergio Jimenez) and Colombia (Huberney Catano / Pedro Gonzalez) could be seen as dangerous outsiders.
The 2024 result, with Spain in 2nd, USA and Japan winning the bronze, is an indication that the format allows for the occasional upset. Austria winning silver in 2018, Colombia winning silver in 2022, it all says that sets and team matches are even less predictable than individual World Cups.
The tables in Viersen are Gabriels, the cloth is Simonis 330 Prestige and the balls are Dynaspheres. Standard UMB rules apply.
The participating countries are spread up in four groups. They will play a Round Robin, and the nrs 1 and 2 will advance to the quarterfinals.
Here are the groups:
A. Turkiye, Germany, Colombia, Portugal.
B. Korea, Japan, France, Mexico.
C. Vietnam, Belgium, Sweden, Jordan.
D. Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, USA.
All matches will be streamed by Soop (formerly Afreeca TV). Detailed results are available on the websites of Five & Six and the UMB.