3-Cushion
BLANKENBERGE - The entrance of two big champions started the show at the World Cup in Blankenberge. Dani Sánchez repaired an almost impossible situation against Jef Philipoom. Sanchez was down 23-1 at the break and masterfully fought his way back to a 40-38 victory. Torbjörn Blomdahl survived one match point against Ahmet Alp and two minutes later, played a draw and kept his chances alive for the main draw in his own hands. The Spaniard and the Swede later opened the way to the best 32. Nikos Polychronopoulos was the best day winner with 4 points and 2,500 of average, followed by Robinson Morales, Martin Horn, Dani Sánchez and Peter De Backer, who survived four days and showed himself the best what Belgian billiards had to offer until now.
Dani Sánchez realized directly after his winning carom against Jef Philipoom: ''I was almost sent home, but luckily I was able to recover well. I couldn't do anything before the break: Philipoom started with ten and then left only bad positions to me. When I came to the stop at 23-1 in 5, I needed a little miracle." The real champion stood up in the second part, with runs of 9 (26-13), 8 (32-23) and 10 (39-36, one carom away from the win: a miraculous escape followed in the Belgian arena, where Jef Philipoom, the second Belgian in this qualifying round behind Peter De Backer, had to say farewell, because he lost his first match to Vietnamese Xuan Cuong Ma and after the dream start against Sánchez. He left with a 1.731 average, good for an amazing performance in Blankenberge.
"I had to win against Sánchez, but I also had to play really well to have a chance on group win," Philipoom commented. '' The match turned over unimaginably. Sánchez played fantastic after the break, made 39 points in 11 innings. "And I made some mistakes because of the tension at the end of the game."
The Dane Tonny Carlsen, who underwent an urgent surgery on an aneurysm last Wednesday, when the doctors opened the cranium on the right side of his head. He came to the World Cup, but had to leave the tournament after one game today. ''I know it's stupid that I decided to play anyway. That will never happen again", Carlsen explained before leaving Blankenberge.
The first intervention was on the right side of his head, where a large scar was visible during his first match that he lost to his countryman Thomas Andersen. ''The operation went well, but after that I had a lot of pain in my head. That's why I had to withdraw after my first match. The second operation, on the other side, will follow in six to ten weeks. Then I will take the necessary rest."
The overview of the twelve groups:
Group A:
Sung-Won Choi secures his place in the main draw in the last match against Arnim Kahofer. Both players beat Sung Il Jeong, Choi thanks to a run of 11. The deciding match gives more excitement than quality and eventually Choi takes the won, 40-33 in 29.
Group B:
The fight between Dani Sánchez and Jef Philipoom is the highlight on the last qualifying day. Xuan Cuong Ma starts with a win over Philipoom (40-33 in 25) then the battle with three comes to a conclusion, first with Sánchez as the spectacular winner over Philipoom, in the last match Sánchez with a win against Ma, 40-28 in 22.
Group C:
The draw between Torbjörn Blomdahl and Ahmet Alp keeps the group win open until the last game. Rui Costa, first winner against Alp 40-32 in 27, announces himself as a serious contender, but is knocked down by Blomdahl: 40-8 in 17 with a 13 run for the Swede.
Group D:
The German clash between Martin Horn and Ronny Lindemann, as the opening game, remains exciting for a long time. The victory goes to Horn, 40-36 in 20 innings. Ronny Lindemann, who likes to characterize himself as a Jekkyl and Hide, retains his chances in the second match by a victory over Trung Hau Do Nguyen (40-34 in 29). Martin Horn grabs the group win by beating Nguyen.
Group E:
Nikos Polychronopoulos is the undisputed star of the day. The Greek launches himself against David Pennör with a quick start (15-1 in 3), wins that match 40-15 in 19 innings and is brilliant in his last match against Chang Hoon Seo (40-29 in 13 innings). The main draw is a new challenge for Polychronopoulos.
Group F:
Minh Cam Ma is a spectator in the first match between Dion Nelin and Chi Yeon Cho, in which the Dane is the best, 40-30 in 28 innings. The Vietnamese first draws against Cho in 22 innings and crowns himself the group winner by a win over Dion Nelin 40-22 in 23.
Group G:
Two big runs in his two appearances, 11 and 12, turn Robinson Morales into one of the killers on this qualifying day. The Colombian beats two Turks on his way to the best 32: Tolgahan Kiraz, 40-21 in 17 and Can Capak, 40-23 in 20. It makes the Colombian to one of the best winners and brings him a more than deserved ticket to the main tournament.
Group H:
The end comes for the Dutchman Barry van Beers, who is on the right track after Ho Chi Minh, but was not on his best now. Lütfi Cenet grabs the win, first with a victory over Van Beers (40-29 in 27) and later a convincing win over Jose Juan Garcia, 40-30 in 21.
Group I:
The audience is once again introduced to one of the great talents of the new generation. Gwendal Maréchal, a quiet, modest Frenchman, does not shy away from any opponent. He starts with a win over the Egyptian Nady (40-32 in 25, despite an 11 from Nady), then a sovereign 40-23 in 20 against David Martinez.
Group J:
The young Korean Myung Woo Cho is not missing on the gala of the big ones. He first sees Adnan Yüksel surprisingly beat Juan David Zapata (40-36 in 20), then plays a draw against Zapata (40-40 in 25) and reaches the finish with a victory over Yüksel, who plays a strong tournament, but must shake the hand of little Cho after 40-35 in 25.
Group K:
Thomas Andersen has announced himself the last two years at the top of Danish billiards. His second Danish title this year gives him the confidence to shine in World Cups too. Andersen is in a main tournament for the fifth year in Blankenberge. He first beats Tonny Carlsen, who is struggling with the aftermath of a tough operation: Andersen wins 40-23 in 29 and in his last match he beats Anh Vu Duong 40-37 in 30 innings.
Group L:
Peter De Backer makes a joke in the morning hours: today I stop playing, because I have to go to the hairdresser with my dog tomorrow. He looks relaxed and excels again in the matches with two (PBA) players: Birol Uymaz and Javier Palazón. The Turk has to bow after 40-33 in 23 innings after an attack by De Backer with 11 at the end and a wonderful shot in his last four points. Javier Palazón is in the lead until the final part, but then, De Backer finishes with 9 and a thunderous applause from the audience.
Torbjörn Blomdahl, start with a draw and among the last 32
Peter De Backer, what a focus and what a fighting spirit
Robinson Morales, the Colombian on his very best
Nikos Polychronopoulos, the day's best in the last qualifications before the main draw