The Men's pool division at the World Games in Cali, Colombia, began July 26th with sixteen men and sixteen women representing their home countries. Darren Appleton of Great Britain won the Gold medal for Men and Chou Chieh-Yu of Chinese Taipei has done the same in the Ladies division.
Appleton came to the final table via victories over Dennis Orcollo (11-9), Brandon Shuff (11-6), and Mohamed El Assal (11-9). Chang had dispatched Haitao Liu (11-6), Johnny Archer (11-8), and Ivan Lopez Avila (11-2).
None of the past matches mattered once the two finalists entered the fray. Appleton lept out to a 4-2 lead and then maintained that two rack spread at 6-4. Chang took the next rack to get within one and then claimed the next as well to level the score at 6 all.
Appleton fought back with a nice run and edged to 7-6. No good. Chang returned the favor and tied us again at 7. Soon Chang enjoyed his first lead at 8-7. As the stretch run began Chang took control and took rack 16 to lead the match 9-7.
Appleton clawed back to 9-8 and then used his bulldog character to even us again at 9 apiece. The World Games Gold just became a very short race. Appleton survived a rack of safeties to get to the hill first at 10-9. But Chang refused to lie down and came back to once again tie the match at double-hill.
Appleton took the next rack with style and courage to claim the Gold Medal. The world's Number One Player proves once again why he is considered the best.
