Vietnam’s Tran Thanh Luc won the 2025 World Cup 3-Cushion Billiards championship on Monday morning (Vietnam time) in Bogota, Colombia.

Tran Thanh Luc defeated Turkey’s Tayfun Tasdemir in the final.

Luc, who overcame several strong opponents on his way to the final, including world No. 1 Dick Jaspers in the semifinal, faced a tough challenge from Tasdemir, who dramatically defeated compatriot Tolgahan Kiraz to reach the final.

The match was filled with excitement and tension. 

Luc held a narrow lead early on, with scores of 11-10 and 15-11, before extending it to 26-13 in the first set. 

However, Tasdemir fought back strongly in the second set, reducing the gap to 20-26 and later closing in at 36-40 and 38-43.

With Luc leading 49-47 and just one point away from victory, a mistake nearly cost him the title. 

Tasdemir took advantage, scoring seven consecutive points to close the gap to 47-49.

However, Luc regained his composure and, in his second opportunity, scored the decisive point to win 50-47.

This marks Luc’s first World Cup victory, making him the third Vietnamese player to claim the title, following Tran Quyet Chien and Tran Duc Minh.

Running from February 24 to Monday, the 2025 World Cup 3-Cushion Billiards gathers 149 players from 28 countries.

The tournament, one of the most prestigious in the Union Mondiale de Billard system, features a prize pool of €106,000 (US$110,000).

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