3-Cushion
Filipos Kasidokostas is a master in winning matches with a little miracle. The Greek did it almost in his match with Dion Nelin earlier this weekend, when he needed eleven points in the equalizer and he only missed the last point. This evening there was another stunt of the former world champion in three cushion: Kasidokostas looked at a big gap against Forthomme. The Belgian missed three match points on a row and in those three innings the Greek sprinted with sixteen points to the finish.
He so qualified for the final rounds of the Agipi Masters, with Sung-Won Choi, who won on the other table and also may return for the final round. The Korean neede a win against Nelin to be equal in match points with the Dane. On average (1.708) Choi was the best of them.
Roland Forthomme and Glenn Hofman gave the last day in the group an exciting finish. There even was a chance that five players ended up with four match points. Roland Forthomme only forgot to finish against Kasidokostad. He missed three (of wich two not so difficult) match balls. By the win of the Greek he ended up with six match points, the Belgian was stopped on two.
Dion Nelin lost his chance on the last day, after a flawless start of his tournament. But in the morning hours on Sunday he first was defeated by Glenn Hofman and in the final round by Sung-Won Choi (50-26).
Kasidokostas undoubtedly was the most outstanding player of this preliminary round. The Greek, who ended with 2,031 average, showed again that he has a flashy final shot and he doesn't shy away tension in the final phase of a match. That's why he beat Forthomme with 50-49, Choi with 50-49 and he lost 50-49 to Nelin.
Sung-Won Choi finished with the second highest average (1.708). Kasidokostas and Choi had the highest run of twelve. Choi was the biggest earner with 4400 euros.