LIMA - The European champion, the Dutch champion and the number one in the world is also crowned as the new world champion in three cushion this evening. Dick Jaspers continued in the Circulo Militar de Jesus Maria in Lima, in a finale against Marco Zanetti which lots of tension, his gold rush in a glorious season. He won the final 3-2 after having closed a gap of 1-0 and 2-1 behind in sets.
The new champion, who won the title twice before in his career, made a lap of honour around the arena after his last carom, kissed his cue and thanked the audience for the enthusiastic ovation. He played one of the toughest finals of his career in the Peruvian capital. Marco Zanetti, the experienced and polished Italian, used all his tactical weapons in the final sets with some of his famous theatrical delights.
The match started already with a little incident, when Zanetti stopped the game and told the organizer and the President of the world federation that the music was too loud. Jaspers seemed impressed, lost the first set 15-8 (10), recovered with 15-6 (4), but was overwhelmed again in the third set (15-3 in 8).
The Dutchman, as many times before, picked up his spirit, feeling and rhythm at a crucial moment. He attacked from the breakshot to eight in the fourth set and won 15-2. Zanetti answered with a lead of 7-0 in the deciding fifth set, but Jaspers fought back to 8-8 and then gleaned the caroms that brought him to a glorious victory.
The apotheosis was sparkling, the finish brought the Dutchman in ecstasy: he danced in a circle around the billiard, threw kisses to the audience, kissed his cue and was embraced by Marco Zanetti, who had fought for every carom, defending himself with all his considerable qualities, but showed himself an admirable loser after the match.
Dick Jaspers played an average of 1.513 in the final, Marco Zanetti 1.324.
