3-Cushion
VIERSEN - The world championship for national teams in Viersen started off with an absolute world class performance on the first day. The reigning champion Belgium, with Eddy Merckx and Frédéric Caudron, realized a world record team average against the Austrians.
Eddy Merckx won his match against Arnim Kahofer 40-9 in 9 innings (4.444), Frédéric Caudron defeated Andreas Efler 40-13 in 13 innings (3.077). Highest runs: Merckx 11, Caudron 8.
The previous record was in Swedish hands: Torbjörn Blomdahl and Michael Nilsson with 2.657. The team average was pulverized by the Belgians, who scored their 80 points in 22 innings and finished 3.636.
Two Asian countries met in the group in which they meet Netherlands tomorrow. South Korea B, substitute for Greece, started the tournament against Vietnam. The match ended in a draw, the final score was in favor of the Koreans because Choong-Bok Lee was a better winner against Ngo Dinh Nai (40-27 in 24) than Anh Vu Duong against Kyung-Roul Kim 40-37 in 28.
Therefor Vietnam will meet the Netherlands at 11.00 tomorrow (Friday).
The French team started with a 2-0 victory over the Finns Sami and Toni Hannula. Pierre Soumagne won his match in 34 innings, Jérémy Bury in 38.
The German B team had a promising start against Portugal. Thorsten Frings played an excellent match against Manuel Rui Costa (40-22 in 26). Ronny (the Rocket) Lindemann and Joao Ferreira shared the points in 33 innings.
Switzerland and Venezuela played a draw in their first match. The Americans, with Hugo Patino and Mazin Shooni, defeated Japan 2-0. Patino won in 27 innings against Takao Miyashita, Shooni dealed with O Takeshima in 32 innings.