3-Cushion
The disappointment dripped from his face after the loss in a brilliant match. Murat Naci Coklu played over two average against the French fighter Jérôme Barbeillon, he made the maximum run of fifteen in the second set, but the wonderful performance was not enough to be winner in the poule. The mutual match was won by Barbeillon, the 36-year-old player from Paris also qualified for the main tournament.
How cruel was the score after the sensational match? The little Turk played in his first match against Hamdi Badr 2.000 average, against Barbeillon 2.050. In his match against the Frenchman he lost the first set 15-14, but Coklu immediately responded with the maximum run of fifteen.
But then, in the deciding set, the tension reigned. Coklu made twelve points in twelve innings, Barbeillon fifteen in thirteen. Coklu may go home, 2.028 average, Barbeillon, a gentleman player, was seeded with 1.395.
The poule was a lottery. The third opponent, the Egyptian Hamdi Badr showed himself a player that you can see in every café, compared to the two top players in his group. Barbeillon beat him 15-2 and 15-6, Coklu 15-2 and 15-2. But then there was the remarkable rise of Jérôme Barbeillon. The Frenchman tomorrow can shine with the cream of three cushion.