
Very true. North Europeans play like a bionic man when they play LOL
Yes, players like Kasidokostas, Taşdemir and another favorite of mine, Murat Naci Coklu represent the new generation among top 3C pros. Maybe we can add Sanchez to this list as well. (By the way, I am thinking of buying an Adam Dani Sanchez DS-1. Have you ever seen one?)
(Also, you can always let me know if there are nice cues for sale from around your friends! I am always looking for nice 3 cushion cues.)
Players like Jaspers, Blomdahl, Caudron, Semih, Zanetti..they are old generation now, as you mentioned. At my billiard club in Ankara, there are pics of these older generation players taken at a tournament from 1992, I believe. It is funny to see same Blomdahls, Caudrons, Ceulemans, Zanettis etc., with much younger faces. They were playing top level 3 cushion back then..and now! They keep going at same level, non-stop.
By the way, I really believe that, the talent of playing carom games (free, 3 cushion etc) really has to do with "natural talent". Semih became the champion in the country after the very first year he learned how to play! I know a local player. Extremely talented hands in free game (he can run 500 points) and extremely sensitive hands in 3C as well. I had a talk with him, and he explained, talent is something you have it or not. Practice helps big time, but when such talent combines with practice...they become the very top level players like Kasidokostas or Semih.