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Former world number one Dick Jaspers has publicly refuted claims by a Dutch fan page that Vietnamese spectators displayed unsportsmanlike conduct at the Three-Cushion World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City.
The controversy stems from a post by author Bert Voorthuijsen on the fanpage Biljart Sport Centraal on Facebook. The post focused on the May 24 semifinal between Belgian veteran Eddy Merckx and local favorite Chiem Hong Thai. Trailing by 20 points, the Vietnamese player staged a remarkable comeback, winning 50-46 to reach his first Three-Cushion World Cup final.
Voorthuijsen argued that Merckx had to face two opponents: the player and the home fans in the stands. He stated that despite the referee's repeated requests for order, it was largely ignored by the crowd.
"Loud applause when a player makes a mistake is inappropriate in the world of billiards," Voorthuijsen wrote, adding that the fans reduced the value of the match and disrespected the player. He further insisted that the organizers should have intervened.
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Dick Jaspers during the 2024 Three-Cushion World Cup final in Porto, Portugal in 2024. Photo by UMB |
Voorthuijsen also described Merckx's growing frustration in the final stages of the match, noting that he was "increasingly irritated by the noisy and unsportsmanlike crowd."
"They went wild after each point scored by the home player and made unpleasant noises when the Belgian player came to the table," Voorthuijsen continued.
The Dutch fanpage's post immediately sparked a mixed reaction online.
Speaking to VnExpress, Jaspers argued that the Dutch fans have misunderstood the culture of Vietnamese supporters.
"I think they misunderstood the enthusiasm of the Vietnamese spectators," Jaspers said. "They were very friendly and only wanted to support the home player."
As a 32-time World Cup champion, second only to Torbjorn Blomdahl (46) in the history of 3-cushion billiards, Jaspers is one of the greatest players in the sport.
"I have absolutely no problem with that kind of cheering," he added. "I respect this aspect of Vietnamese culture. People will understand eventually."
To ensure his point was clear, Jaspers directly engaged with Voorthuijsen's post.
"I read your article and I think you exaggerated when you talked about unsportsmanlike behavior," the 60-year-old player commented. "The Vietnamese audience is large, extremely passionate, and they also applaud foreign players and show a lot of respect."
Jaspers argued that it is perfectly justified for an audience to back a home player.
"They were silent when I was preparing to make a shot," he wrote in his response. "The atmosphere during the match was fantastic. Therefore, I find such negative comments unfair. The fans here simply exploded with emotion, and it was a special experience for me."
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Vietnamese player Chiem Hong Thai during the Three-Cushion World Cup final in Ho Chi Minh City on May 24, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong |
Despite the legend's defense, the fanpage maintained its stance. The admin replied to Jaspers: "We could argue this at length, Dick, because I believe that cheering or applauding when a player misses a shot is disrespectful. It's normal for them, and the way people cheer in those countries is different from many others, which isn't the issue. But they shouldn't react to a player's missed shot with applause or shouting."
Following the tournament's final match, where Thai lost to former world number one Frédéric Caudron 25-50, Voorthuijsen doubled down on his criticism, writing that Caudron "took revenge on the unsportsmanlike spectators."
The ongoing exchange has ignited a broader debate about etiquette and spectator culture in professional billiards.
A user called Jaspers' response fair, noting that the crowd had also applauded Merckx during the semifinal. Another user called Voorthuijsen's commentary "hypocritical."
Meanwhile, many agreed with Voorthuijsen.
"In Belgium, it's annoying even when someone is stirring coffee during a match," wrote a comment. "It all depends on the environment we grow up in."
"Billiards is a sport that values discipline. Spectators are very disrespectful to the players and need to be punished," another commented.
However, several fans argue that a vibrant, vocal atmosphere is exactly what the sport needs to thrive in the modern era.
"This is the kind of passionate audience the sport needs to grow," an account wrote. "Look at the atmosphere at darts events or the Mosconi Cup in pool. Three-cushion carom needs to break free from its boring image and funeral-like atmosphere."
