3-Cushion
VELJE - Thomas Anderson turned out to be the best of four topguns at the Danish three cushion championship played in Velje last weekend. His opponents on the final day: Brian Knudsen, Jacob-Haack Sörensen and Dion Nelin. The final stage was played with 16 final players, qualified from the eight yearly 'Sehard 3-Cushion Elite Tours. The finals werd held in Vejle/Denmark.
The final match of Thomas Andersen against Brian Knudsen was won by Thomas 50-31 in 27 innings. Thomas Andersen wins his second consecutive championship and third overall. Both finalists were rewarded after the championships by being chosen to represent Denmark at the World national team championship in Viersen beginning in March. Brian Knudsen beat Dion Nelin in the semi-finals 50-48 in 32 innings. Thomas Andersen beat Jacob Haack-Sørensen 50-35 in 38 innings.
The champion Thomas Andersen commented: ''I played rather good from the start, beating Dion Nelin in the group matches and just won on one point in the quarter finals. Then I met Jacob Haack-Sörensen in the semi's and won 50-32, after facing Brian Knudsen in the final. We were pretty close at the break, playing a little defense. At the break I was leading 27-25, but then I made 10, 6 and 8 for being 30-47 ahead.''
He explained: ''I'm not sure for my program still in 2020, because of my vacations. For sure I will play in Turkey in February, in Porto and in Holland. We'll see what will come more.''
The Danish Billiard Federation (DDBU) has chosen the 4 final players as key-participants in the Danish 3-Cushion Elite program. Part of this is that each player, in cooperation with DDBU, agrees on his personal goals for 2020 in regard of results in UMB and CEB ranking tournaments.
"We believe that these four players all will have realistic chances to climb to individual top positions on the ranking lists within this year", says Torsten Danielsson, the president of DDBU. "They are chosen because they all want to go all in to reach their goals. Nelin is currently number 21 in the world, Andersen number 44 and Haack-Sørensen number 45. Brian Knudsen, after several years break from international billiard, is back again and has shown his strength and determination to return to the world elite. Years back he held the position as number 6 in the world and he currently is number 110."
Torsten Danielson says he wants to look forward following these players. ''From the side of DDBU we will do our utmost to support them and to challenge them in all areas of their preparations. To be a world class 3-cushion player in 2020 a player must look at all aspects - not only technical, strategic, physical and practical aspects but also mental aspects", says Danielsson.
All 4 players will participate in their first ranking tournament of 2020 in Antalya next month.
The final ranking (top 12):
1 Thomas Andersen 1,422
2 Brian Knudsen 1,561
3 Dion Nelin 1,353
4 Jacob Haack Sörensen 1,306
5 Allan Keith 1,064
6 Tommy Ebeling 1,033
7 Michael Toudahl 0.990
8 Martin Olesen 0.932
9 Benny Staalboo 1.059
10 Poul Bjerring 0.911
11 Lars Dunch 0.850
12 Tommy Magnussen 0.820