Turkish billiard player nabs 2nd in world championship

Internationally acclaimed Turkish billiard player Semih Saygıner won second prize at the Three-Cushion World Championship at Blankenberge, Belgium, the Turkish Billiard Federation said in a statement on Monday.

In the final game Sayginer -- also known as Mr. Magic or the Turkish Prince -- was bested by his Dutch opponent 40-33 to take home second prize, the statement said.

Sayginer has won the World Cup Championships five times to date. His first championship was in 1994, at Gent-Belgium, followed by Goynuk, Turkey in 1998, Bogota, Colombia in 2001, Las Vegas in 2003, and Athens in 2004.