In Blois, Tayfun Taşdemir beat Germany's Martin Horn 50-23 to reach the semi-finals. He then lost 50-48 to Vietnam's Phuong Vinh Bao, taking bronze at the World Three-Cushion Billiards Championship in France. Anadolu Ajansı, citing the Turkish Billiards Federation, reported the result as official confirmation of Taşdemir's bronze for Turkey.
The quarter-final win gave Taşdemir a 27-point margin over Horn. The federation's figures, reported by Anadolu Ajansı, put the score at 50-23.
Just two points mattered.
Thanh Nien reported that Bao edged Taşdemir 50-48 after 25 innings and advanced to the final.
A quarter-final win set up the medal run
Taşdemir's win over Horn secured his place in the semi-finals. Bao edged the next match 50-48 and ended Taşdemir's title challenge.
That two-point margin separated a place in the final from a bronze medal. A tight finish.
The UMB listed Sameh Sidhom, Phuong Vinh Bao, Taşdemir and Eddy Merckx as the tournament's final four, and noted that Taşdemir was the 2022 world champion. In the same bracket, Merckx beat Son Jun-hyuk 50-35, while Sidhom defeated Frédéric Caudron 50-47.
Bronze caps a close contest
The Turkish Billiards Federation announced Taşdemir's result. The medal puts him third in a championship contested by leading players from around the world. This Asian billiards report tracked regional podium achievements. Taşdemir's bronze came in the distinct discipline of three-cushion billiards.
Taşdemir leaves France with a quarter-final win and a bronze medal after a semi-final decided by two points. Two points decided it.
