Marc Bijsterbosch versus Dang Jin Hu. No one predicted this final but it was a good one. There was excitement and drama. I reviewed their paths to the final in the Main Review and they have both played well to get here. Neither man consistantly dominated their opponents, with Marc having 4 out of his 5 matches in the last 64 going hill hill and only finishing one early, 10/6. The emotional roller coaster this man has been on the last few days must have been something so incredible. Unbelievable gutsy performance. Dang Jin Hu, didn’t face a sinlge hill hill match this whole event, finishing all his matches without letting his opponent to the hill, until the final. Marc, maybe worn out from the emotional and physical cost of so many close matches? Dang Jin Hu, facing his first hill hill thriller? It was amazing.
The match started with both players playing OK, but Dang took an early lead 4-1 before Marc started to put it together. Working away, he managed to close to 5-4 and from there it was scrappy. Back and forth, a game here a game there and Marc was leading 8-6. Dang didn’t go away though and took 4 of the next 6 games to get it 10/10. Marc got to the hill though at 12/10 but couldn’t close it out and Dang finished that rack to close within one, 12/11. The next rack had a real table control battle, with neither playing giving much until Dang left an open look at the 5 and Marc stepped up. He transfered easily to the 6 but fell incredibly short on the 7. It looked like Dang was going to get to the table with 3 balls to finish the rack and tie it up, but Marc rolled in a long reverse bank and as the 7 fell, you could see he was funny on the 8. He tried the bank and missed, and didn’t get any luck as the cue ball and the 8 laid out perfectly for Dang to transition to the 9 and tie it up.
The final rack began with Dang and a dry break. Marc had a difficult start and used his extension on his first visit to the table. He tried to carom the 9 in, but missed, changing the layout of the table in the process. Dang played a nice easy safety, managing the table, and Marc was kicking. He hit the one, but left it open with the two nearby. Dang had the cueball on point here and landed perfectly on the two. 3 down, and he slow rolled a long cut up the rail that barely dropped, and the rest was a formality. As the last balls lined up, Dang pumped his fist in the air and finished of a routine set of balls for his first Matchroom Major win.
Congratulations to Dang Jin Hu! Well played sir, well played.
Congratulations also the Marc Biljsterbosch, who really showed up this week and gutted out some incredible matches! Looking forward to more sir.
Up next is the World Cup of Pool! This is going to be fun!