3-Cushion
NEW YORK - Did we know any Colombian billiard players who are more famous than Andrés Lizarazo? Yes, of course we do, like Heriberto Aristizabal, Huberney Catano, Carlos Campino, Robinson Morales, Alexander Salazar and Jose Juan Garcia. But now, Andrés Lizarazo overwhelmed them all in the Open Verhoeven with two world clash matches. The 31-year-old South American from Bogota (from April 12, 1984) won two of his five matches in the preliminaries over 25 caroms in six innings, a great 4.167 average. He did it against Frenchman Philippe Malsert first (25-1 score), but even more impressive was the victory against Tayfun Tasdemir 25-2.
The Carom Cafe in New York was in full admiration for the Colombian billiards player, who won his other matches in 19, 23 and 20 turns and thereby finished 1.689 average, the best of all top players. The two spectacular matches overshadowed all the other performances in the preliminaries. Lizarazo was the undisputed star player in the run-up to the final rounds.
What do we known internationally about Andrés Lizarazo? Two second places this year and last year in Colombian tournaments in Medellin and La Union Valle behind Robinson Morales and Luis Martinez. That's all to notify on his honour role. The way he blew a world class player like Tayfun Tasdemir from the table, without any compassion, made him to a future star player of Colombian billiards.
Even Semih Sayginer, also unbeaten and 1.667, Sameh Sidhom (1.594) Peter Ceulemans (1.506), Jose Juan Garcia (1.437), Pedro Piedrabuena (1.309) and Roland Forthomme (1.359) were in Lizarazo's shadow on the last day of the qualifications.
The Colombian improved the tournament's best match so far (Murat Naci Coklu, 7 innings), not once, but twice time. The first thanks to a twelve-run, the second with nine and a final run of six. The 25-2 must be one of the most painful losses in Tayfun Tasdemir's career.
The last session of the day brought the final decisions, like for Sruong Pheavy, who advanced second in the group with Pedro Piedrabuena by a win vs Mercedes Gonzalez. Alexander Salazar (1.250) remained unbeaten in his group ahead of Sameh Sidhom with 1.594. Therese Klompenhouwer (1.085) joins Ira Lee (1.078), Kurt Ceulemans suffered his second loss, but moves up with Roland Forthomme. Carlos Palafox defeated Karina Jetten, making him second behind the undefeated Jose Juan Garcia. Semih Sayginer maintained his high level (1.667), the Belgian Wesley Hunter forced the qualification in his last match.
The two winners in each group:
De nummers één en twee in de poules:
Group A:
1 Peter Ceulemans 10-1.506-12
2 Vinny Siemaszko 6-0.718-6
Group B:
1 Young Gull Lee 8-1.052-7
2 Young Ha Choi 8-0.874-9
Group C:
1 Pedro Piedrabuena 8-1.309-7
2 Sruong Pheavy 6-0.796-6
Group D:
1 Jose Juan Garcia 10-1.437-9
2 Carlos Palafox 8-1.000-6
Group E:
1 Carlos Campino 10-1.096-9
2 Lars Dunch 8-1.072-7
Group F:
1 Ira Lee 10-1.078-8
2 Therese Klompenhouwer 8-1.085-9
Group G:
1 Luis Aveiga 10-1.225-7
2 Robinson Morales 8-1.281-9
Group H:
Group I:
1 Semih Sayginer 10-1.667-9
2 Wesley de Jaeger 8-1.881-7
Group J:
1 Alexander Salazar 10-1.250-8
2 Sameh Sidhom 8-1.594-12
Group K:
1 Manuel Riano 8-0.867-6
2 Chris Bartzos 8-0.882-8
Group L:
1 Michael Kang 10-0.862-7
2 Michael Hansen 8-0.863-9
Group M:
1 Andres Lizarazo 10-1.689-12
2 Tayfun Tasdemir 8-1.619-8
Group N:
1 Murat Naci Coklu 10-1.471-10
2 Dan Johansen 8-0.991-7
Group O:
1 Roland Forthomme 10-1.359-8
2 Kurt Ceulemans 6-1.054-6
Group P:
1 Miguel Torres 8-0.932-7
2 William Oh 8-1.227-10.
