Tran Thanh Luc, a Vietnamese cueist, has reached the semifinals of the Three-Cushion World Cup for the first time, defeating Forthomme and Merckx in the knockout rounds. He is among the top Vietnamese players to achieve this milestone. Other players from Vietnam faced early exits in the tournament. Luc’s semifinal match against world number one Dick Jaspers is set for Sunday.
Tran Thanh Luc, a Vietnamese cueist, has achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching the semifinals of the Three-Cushion World Cup. In the round of 16, he secured a decisive 50-31 victory over Belgium’s Forthomme in 36 innings. He then continued his impressive performance, defeating former champion Merckx 50-25 in just 22 innings during the quarterfinal match.
This achievement marks Luc’s first time reaching a World Cup semifinal, making him the 11th Vietnamese player in 3-cushion billiards to accomplish this feat. The competition is taking place at the Palacio de Los Deportes in Bogotá, Colombia.
Unfortunately, three other Vietnamese players were eliminated during the knockout stage. Chiem Hong Thai fought valiantly but was narrowly defeated by Turkey’s Tolgahan Kiraz in the quarterfinals, losing 49-50 in 38 innings. Additionally, the country’s top player Tran Quyet Chien faced world number one Dick Jaspers from the Netherlands, suffering a loss of 40-50 in 31 innings.
Luc’s semifinal match against Jaspers is scheduled for 11 p.m. on Sunday, while the other semifinal will feature Kiraz competing against his fellow countryman Tayfun Tasdemir. Luc, born in 1990 in Binh Duong, Vietnam, came from a non-sporting family and began playing billiards in 2011 after completing his military service.
By 2013, he had entered the top 32 billiards players in Vietnam. Luc briefly stepped away from professional competition in 2015, working at billiards clubs before returning to the sport in 2018. He joined Ho Chi Minh City’s billiards team in 2019, embarking on a formal professional career and securing a silver medal at the Asian Championship 2024 and finishing as runner-up at the UMB World Three-Cushion Championship 2023.
Tran Thanh Luc’s remarkable journey in the Three-Cushion World Cup highlights his dedication and skill, culminating in his historic semifinal appearance. Despite the challenges faced by his fellow Vietnamese players, Luc’s victory over long-time competitors signifies a significant achievement for Vietnam in this sport. As he prepares for his semifinal match, Luc’s story inspires many aspiring athletes in the region.
Original Source: e.vnexpress.net
