3-Cushion
ANTALYA - ,,You took something special maybe?'' The Belgian Martin Spoormans, one of the salty dogs in the circuit of billiard players, could not resist the temptation after Barry van Beers' formidable match in his first performance in Antalya. And Roland Forthomme, team mate of Barry in Holland, knew the answer: ,,Only a good coach.''
Barry van Beers gave his first appearance the shine that he never had done before in an official match. The very sympathetic Dutchman not only rolled over his opponent, Muammer Rahmet (15-2, 15-2), but also dashed off the match of thirty caroms in only ten innings (4 and 6).
That was certainly historic for his own career, because never before he played 3.000 average in an official match. He was overwhelmed by lots of congratulations afterwards, but Barry van Beers responded with the sobriety he's known for. ,,Thanks mate'', or ,,Thanks boys and girls.''
In his next match he meets the Dane Claus Foge, he as to shake him off to ran to next round away. No one doubts, after his topmatch, but every billiard player knows that form is just as whimsical as the weather gods in Europe.
Ronny Lindemann (2.307 against Savas Gungor), Carlos Crespo, Glenn Hofman, Birol Uymaz, Murat Tüzül and Jean van Erp (1.666) had an excellent start as well in their group this afternoon.
The level is high in this session and for the qualification there will be some exciting matches later in the evening, such as in the group of Jean Paul de Bruijn, the Dutchman who narrowly beat Joel Switala 2-1.
And also in the group with In-Won Kang and Gerhard Kostistandsky, with Christian Rudolph, who lost his first match 2-0 against Koray Kirman and Ahmet Alp, the Turk who shone in Hurghada and now started with a 2-0 defeat.