3-Cushion
ANTALYA - The 32 players who will battle for the World Cup in Antalya are known. The level in the final qualifying round was exceptionally high. Kouji Funaki (2.400), Glenn Hoffman (2.218) and Tayfun Tasdemir (2.114) ended up with averages, with which they can scare all top players in the main tournament this weekend. The Dutchman Hofman, who eliminated Nikos Polychronopoulos, may be seen as the sensation of the day.
Tayfun Tasdemir had a better endrush than Michael Nilsson in his group, Kouji Funaki didn't feel any opposition in his matches against Volkan Cimentepe and Peter Ceulemans and Glenn Hoffman defeated two opponents of whom the Greek Nikos Polychronopoulos has a great reputation in international three cushion.
Will it be the final breakthrough of Glenn Hoffman? The Dutchman, who excelled a lot of times in European junior championships, is drifting already for some weeks on a pink cloud in the Dutch and Belgian league. He explained himself: ,,I have been practicing a lot, in two weeks more than seventy hours'', he said after his last victory in Belgium.
Moreover, he did some practicing sessions in Frédéric Caudron's home. All that work has accelerated the progression: Hofman showed a lot of confidence and a great shape so far in Antalya. And he was strong in controlling his opponents, to force his way to the finish.
Javier Palazón, the Spaniard who often played in junior tournaments with Hofman, had a little luck to grab the win against Jean Reverchon. The Frenchman spoiled a matchpoint and lost the decider 15-14.
The surprising Czech Radek Novak surprised Gerhard Kostistandski. Dave Christiani flew out of the tournament against Dong Koong Kang by a 15-5 defeat in two innings in the third set.
Roland Forthomme flaunted with another win, against one of the revelations of this World Cup: he beat Savas Bulut, who showed some great matches and even finished 1.710 average. His Belgian opponent ended just over 1.500, but demonstrated his full maturity in the decisive game.
Jean Paul de Bruijn, fickle as ever, recovered from a bad first day and entered the main tournament by wins against Antonio Ortiz and Vagelis Moulos. Kostas Papakonstantinou underlined his comeback with a victory over David Pennör.
Barry Beers was like Glenn Hoffman also close to a breakthrough, but lost his chance after a great performance on Wednesday in the Dutch derby against Raimond Burgman. Both players then defeated the Turk Koray Kirman, which Burgman is placed.