3-Cushion
VILA NOVA DE GAIA – Small room, intimate atmosphere? 34-year old Heriberto Aristazabal was not distracted, as he pulled away from Portugese player Manuel Santos Oliviera in one of the early matches of the WC.
The Colombian from Medellin, 2nd behind Carlos Campino in the Panamerican championships, was trailing 20-10 achter, but levelled the match first and then dominated: Heriberto finished in the 20th inning with a run of 9: 40-36.
,,I could not be happier, this ambiance is fantastic'', he said with a smile.
Heriberto Aristazabal, who will play Torbjörn Blomdahl tomorrow, was the best starting player in the first round, that also saw Juan Pablo Sisterna from Argentina, Gerhard Kostistansky from Austria and Merlin Romero win their respective matches. The man from Venezuela (Romero) did that in style also: 40-19 in 24 innings against Marco Sobarzo from Chili.
The Colombians have two players in this tournament: Panamerican champion Carlos Campino and the nr. 2 Heriberto Aristazabal, who lives in Medellin with his girlfriend and two Young kids. He lives off professional three cushion in his country.
Juan Pablo Sisterna is the only Argentinian, like Gerhard Kostistandky is the only Austrian. Merlin Romero from Venezuela is by now a recognised face in international tournaments. He is in a group with Daniel Sanchez, and they will meet tomorrow.