Billiards: With a big series, genius Caudron made a spectacular comeback to win the world championship

Genius Frederic Caudron made a spectacular comeback to defeat compatriot Eddy Merckx in the final, thereby convincingly winning the 2025 3-cushion carom billiards tournament.

The final match of the 2025 World Championship of Carom Billiards (World Championship) took place in Antwerp - Belgium, where two players from the host country: Eddy Merckx and Frederic Caudron. This was a classic encounter in the world of 3-cushion carom billiards, as both players are considered legends, holding many championship titles in the tournament system of the World Carom Billiards Union (UMB). Previously, in the semi-finals, Caudron won convincingly with a score difference of 50-14 against Arnim Kahofer (Austria), while Merckx won 50-47 against defending champion Cho Myung-woo (Korea) in a thrilling doubles match.

Caudron deadlocked in the first half

In the championship match, both players started the match cautiously, playing tentatively. With the tense nature of a final match, Caudron and Merckx continuously made mistakes in the early stages of the match. Especially Caudron, the player nicknamed genius, unfortunately missed many easy shots.

After 5 rounds, Caudron led 6-5. In the 7th round, Caudron scored a series of 5 points to increase the gap to 11-5. Eddy Merckx countered with a series of 8 points to officially surpass his compatriot, leading 17-12. When the match went through 15 rounds, Eddy Merckx still had the advantage, 22-17. Merckx brought the match into halftime after 16 rounds, leading 26-17 over Caudron.

Caudron currently owns 4 world championships in 3-cushion carom billiards.

PHOTO: UMB

At the beginning of the second half, the player nicknamed genius still had not found his best feeling. In the first 20 shots, Caudron had a rather low scoring efficiency, less than 1,000 (only 19 points). Eddy Merckx created a gap of more than 10 points over Caudron, leading 31-19 after 20 shots.

Series 12 "change of wind"

When the audience thought the final match would be one-sided, Caudron did not let that happen. In the 23rd shot, when he was behind 34-22, Caudron suddenly exploded with a series of 12 points to level the score: 34-34. This was also the turning point of the match, when it broke the deadlock in Caudron's scoring. At this time, the person at a psychological disadvantage was Eddy Merckx.

Caudron scored a series of 5 in the 24th turn, re-establishing the lead over Merckx: 39-34. The match began to heat up in the final period, as the two players played back-and-forth, chasing each other fiercely. After 25 turns, the score was 39-39. Eddy Merck once again overtook Caudron, taking the lead 43-41 after 26 turns.

Eddy Merck had the advantage, but lost the fight when Caudron exploded in the second round.

PHOTO: UMB

On the 27th turn, Caudron hit a series of 5s to lead 46-43. Caudron was only 2 points away from winning after 28 turns, leading 48-43. However, the final points are always very difficult for any player. Merckx was very close to Caudron, when the score was 47-48 after 31 turns.

In the end, Frederic Caudron defeated Eddy Merckx 50-47 after 32 rounds. This is the 4th time genius Caudron has won the 3-cushion carom billiards world championship (after winning in 1999, 2013 and 2017).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/billiards-tung-se-ri-lon-thien-tai-caudron-nguoc-dong-ngoan-muc-gianh-chuc-vo-dich-the-gioi-185251019010706229.htm