Tran Thanh Luc reached the semifinals of the Three-Cushion World Cup, marking his first semifinal appearance in this prestigious tournament. He secured victories over Forthomme and Merckx before facing world number one Dick Jaspers in the semifinals. Luc’s journey in billiards is noteworthy, having transitioned from an amateur to a prominent professional, earning recognition in various competitions.
In the recent Three-Cushion World Cup held in Bogotá, Colombia, Tran Thanh Luc demonstrated exceptional skill, marking an impressive milestone by reaching the semifinals for the first time. In the round of 16, he secured a convincing victory over Forthomme with a score of 50-31 in 36 innings. He followed this achievement with a remarkable 50-25 win against Merckx in just 22 innings during the quarterfinals, solidifying his status as a top contender in this prestigious tournament.
Luc’s achievement is particularly significant as he becomes the 11th Vietnamese player to reach the semifinals of the Three-Cushion World Cup. He will face world number one Dick Jaspers of the Netherlands in the first semifinal match scheduled for 11 p.m. on Sunday. The other semifinal will see Turkey’s Tolgahan Kiraz compete against compatriot Tayfun Tasdemir.
In this knockout stage, three other Vietnamese players were eliminated. Chiem Hong Thai emerged from the round of 16 with a win against Sweden’s Torbjorn Blomdahl, but he narrowly lost to Turkey’s Tolgahan Kiraz in the quarterfinals. Vietnam’s leading player Tran Quyet Chien faced defeat against Jaspers, while former champion Tran Duc Minh was also eliminated in the round of 16.
Tran Thanh Luc, born in 1990 in Binh Duong, comes from a non-sporting family and began his journey in billiards in 2011 after completing military service. After a brief hiatus from competitions, he returned to billiards in 2018, joining Ho Chi Minh City’s billiards team and officially commencing his professional career. Luc achieved notable recognition by winning 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 achievement of reaching the semifinals in the Three-Cushion World Cup highlights his dedication and skill in billiards. As he prepares to compete against the world’s best, his journey from an amateur player to a semifinalist serves as an inspiring narrative for aspiring athletes. With his recent performance, Luc has solidified his place among Vietnam’s top billiards players, showcasing the depth of talent in the sport.
Original Source: e.vnexpress.net
