On June 20, the final day took place in the Artistic World Championship in Ankara, and in the end we crowned the new World champion!
In the morning the first semifinal, GUMUS (TR) vs. SMITS (NL), started and slowly but surely, SMITS pulled away from GUMUS. Although GUMUS managed to close the gap at times, in the end it was a clear victory for the Dutchman. This means the first competitor from the Netherlands has reached the final. The question now was: Would Jop DE JONG (NL) reach an all-Dutch final, or could TRAN from France put a stop to that?
After noon, the second semifinal began, with TRAN (FR) facing DE JONG (NL), and DE JONG didn't really get going at first. But at the break after 14 figures, he was leading 71–54. At the second break after 28 figures the difference was declined to 149:143 and the fifth turn must bring the decision. Unfortunately for DE JONG the Frenchman took it with 181:175.
And for the Netherlands, the road to the title wasn't over yet. The final between TRAN (FR) and SMITS (NL) was still completely up in the air at this point in time.
The final began, as most finals did: Nervous! After the first seven figures, the tide turned in SMITS's favor, but TRAN was unable to regain his stroke and rhythm to the same extent. At the first break after 14 figures, SMITS was leading 76–54.´This distance was during the next 14 figures much higher, then SMITS made two faults and TRAN started again to score. So, it was 144:127 before the fifth and deciding last 7 figures. Still a chance for TRAN!
But then the end came in the fifth and was like the beginning: Nervous and with a positive tendency for SIMTS. So, Benny SMITS from the Netherland crowned himself as the new World Champion and TRAN were the runner up for the second time! SIMTS is the undefeated champion of this world championship and also had the best percentage on the final day. So, he may be a surprising champion, but he certainly deserves it.
The artistic circus leaves this beautiful arena in Ankara with all that friendly people and great hospitality. On the world-level we see us in 2028 and until then “Keep playing”!
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On June 19, the Knock-out day, as an overture to the final day, took place in the Artistic World Championship in Ankara! And what a day it was. The names on the podium have been decided and so the semifinals are: GUMUS (TR) vs. SMITS (NL) and TRAN (FR) vs. DE JONG (NL)
June 20, 2026 
In the morning Thomas Ahrens (DE) and Baris CIN (TR), training partner and friends, met again as in the group stage, but this time Ahrens had the better end. Bitter for Baris Cin, the reigning European champion, after such a close and high-level match. Another highlight of the first round was Benny SMITS (NL), who defeated FRANCK (LU) with the highest percentage of the day (78,41%). In the second round Mr. FONELLOSA from Spain took a very close win against the Austrian Ken Dalke and made it in the quarters! And in the match between the only two French players in the field, both are in top form, Kevin TRAN took the win, but Antony MARIN showed also a fine performance. In the other two matches Jop DE JONG (NL) and YAMAN (TR) were the winners with far over 70% in the percentage. A clear signal from the two! After this fine morning it came in the early evening to the quarterfinals. Just one match, FONELLOSA (ES) vs. TRAN (FR), was a clear one. After a very good start of the Spaniard, the French took the lead and won 141 to 105. Thomas Ahrens (DE) faced Serdar GUMUS (TR) and for a long time the players were even on a percentage-level over 70%. But in the end GUMUS, this highly decorated veteran and former World champion, made it with a percentage over 80%. It was a tight match! Another tight match was CUADRADO (ES) vs SMITS (NL) but only in the end. After an even start SMITS took the lead and was quite far ahead, but in the end the Spaniard have got a high! In the end just 6 points more for SMITS in a match over 60%. The real nailbiter was Jop DE JONG (NL) vs. Haci YAMAN (TR). Both got off to a strong start, remained neck and neck throughout, and the largest lead either player held was 5 points over the course of the match. With the final figure on his third attempt, DE JONG secured the victory by a margin of 1 point (79.17% vs. 78.79%). It is important to note here the sportsmanship with which YAMAN subsequently accepted the result and congratulated his opponent. Great to see! You will find all results in detail on our website, but let’s have a look at the upcoming matches of the semifinals and finals. The names on the podium have been decided and so the semifinals are: GUMUS (TR) vs. SMITS (NL) and TRAN (FR) vs. DE JONG (NL) But who will be crowned world champion, and will the final feature only players from the Netherlands? The only chance to know this is to watch the matches via SOOP streaming and find all the results there or on UMB website. Enjoy the show!
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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.
June 19, 2026 
From June 17 to 18, the qualification rounds for the Artistic World Championship took place. We saw exciting matches and some surprising results so let’s have a look: Even the reigning world champion, Rene Dericks (NL), fails to make it out of the group stage. With one win, two losses, and a percentage of 55.17%, he has to give way to MARIN (FR) and FRANCK (LU). With all due respect, we talk in these days about Mr. FONELLOSA from Spain with an English saying: “There’s no fox like an old fox.” This artistic veteran made an unbelievable run of 145 points in his last match, which was simply too much for one of the "big guns", Mr. VERVLIET (BE). FONELLOSA won the group clearly with 3 wins! VERVLIET could not make it out of the group, although he played yesterday against GULAY (TR) a run of 117 from the start to the end without a fault, which means 100% average. But he lost also against DAHLKE (AT), who made it with 4 points in the last 16. In all other groups, the rankings are more or less as expected, but a few comments should be made. Naoki HARADA (JP) did not make it to the last 16, but he showed significant improvement compared to the last World Championship and thus did Asia proud. One of the top contenders, CUADRADO (ES), once again displayed his impressive, powerful style of play, but he still has room for improvement and with Emrah TAC (TR) a real challenge in the next round. You will find all results in detail on our website, but let’s have a look on the upcoming matches of the last 16. Thomas Ahrens (DE) faces Baris (CIN (TR)) once again, who won a high-profile match in the group stage, meaning that one of the top favorites will see their run come to an end today. In the next round we have a fight of compatriots: The only two French players in the field are facing off against each other, and both are in top form. The Turks, who are always a very strong team, have four players in the knockout round. Former World champions YAMAN and GUMUS are ready to give it their all, and Emrah TAC has performed exceptionally well so far, but now faces the formidable CUADRADO (ES). You can expect a tough fight! 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!
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is a discipline full of excitement, brilliant technical skills, and solutions on the edge of physics. A really exciting, big show!!
June 18, 2026 
From June 17 to 20, the Turkish Federation will host once again the World Championship Artistic 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. A really exciting, big show!! The reigning champion Mr. Dericks from the Netherlands must fight hard to defend his title. But great and very experienced players like the German Thomas AHRENS or Hector CUADRADO from Spain or the Turks like the European champion Mr. Baris CIN and their former champion YAMAN are ready to fight. 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 a top selection of the world's artistic players. The only ones missing are the top players from Latin America, as the current global conflicts are driving up the risks and costs of participation for them too much. Yesterday the 32 participants started to compete with the qualification in 8 groups of four to reach the knockout phase of the best 16. And the first surprises—some big, some small—have already happened. In one of his two opening matches, reigning world champion DERICKS lost to Anthony MARIN (FR) by a razor-thin margin of just 2 points. Also, few people expected European champion Baris CIN to lose to the Belgian Eric DAELMAN either or the win of Emrah TAC (TR) against Hector CUADRADO from Spain. Please read all information in detail on our the UMB webpage under “Active Events”. All matches can be watched via live streaming (links on our website). Full results are available on the websites of CUESCO and the UMB. Have a look and enjoy the show!
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Dutchman Dericks defends artistic world title.
June 15, 2026 
Just days after the Ankara World Cup, the Turkish Federation’s center again welcomes the best players in the world, this time in a different discipline: artistic billiards. The organizing Turks have a strong history in artistic billiards, and even many of their 3-cushion players bring special abilities to the table. The artistic discipline lives a bit away from the mainstream of 3-cushion and carom billiards, but the players are highly respected for their unique abilities. Solving mandatory positions in varying degrees of difficulty, in three attempts at most, that’s their sport. It requires a ton of practice, advanced muscle memory and tremendous concentration. Rene Dericks from the Netherlands defends his 2025 world title. The UMB has invited the following players: Rene Dericks – NET Bernd Singer – GER Erik van den Zegel – BEL Kevin Tran – Fra Emrah Tac – TUR Mehmet Sezer – TUR Baris Cin – TUR Haci Arap Yaman – TUR Benny Smits – NET Sergio Sanchez – SPA Erik Vervliet. – BEL Matthieu Franck – LUX Anthony Marin – FRA Thomas Ahrens – GER Ken Dahlke – AUT Laszlo Kun – HUN Serdar Gümüs – TUR Sander Jonen – NET Hector Cuadrado – SPA Manfred Hekerle – AUT Jop de Jong – NET Naoki Harada – JAP Kazulaka Hodozuka – JAP Laszlo Toth – HUN Xavier Fonellosa – SPA Eric Daelman – BEL Tuncay Gulay – TUR Marvin Heinrich – GER David Keller – HUN Halm Doruk – TUR Sven Göppinger – GER Cengiz Can – TUR Players will be divided into 8 groups of 4, the best two to advance. The tables in Ankara are Zeki Bilardo, the balls are Aramith Prestige and the cloth is Simonis 330 Prestige. Full match results will be available on the UMB website.
