It's official. And for 3-cushion billiards it is not good news. The world federation of billiards, UMB, has published the list of 85 players who have been suspended starting July 15. For participation in international championships, World Cups, other UMB tournaments and confederation tournaments all players on the list (see below) will be forbidden to participate.
World Champion and number one ranked Dick Jaspers of the Netherlands defeated Korea's Haeng-Jik Kim in a tough fought final match to win the fourth event in the series, the 2019 UMB World Cup held in Porto, Portugal.
Three times Junior World Champion Javier Palazon of Spain, at age 31 adds his first world cup victory in Blankenberge, Belgium to his list of accomplishments. Palazon defeated a favored Martin Horn of Germany in the finals with a combination of tenacious will and disciplined defensive strategy to achieve his career first victory.
The Portuguese three cushion title is back in the hands of Rui Manuel Costa, the most successful player in his country. The 59-year-old FC Porto player was crowned the winner after a marathon of preliminary rounds and a final with eight players, in which he finished ahead of Paulo Andrade.