3-Cushion
NEW YORK - Who will have the best final shot at the Verhoeven Open in New York: Torbjörn Blomdahl, the title holder and number one in the world, Dick Jaspers, the number two and the best of the quarterfinals, Frédéric Caudron, or maybe even Tayfun Tasdemir. The four finalists battle it out in the last two sessions. Dick Jaspers and Frédéric Caudron, former team mates, meet each other, Torbjörn Blomdahl is facing Tayfun Tasdemir for a place in the final. The two semi-finals are at 15.00 (New York time), the final at 17.30.
The showdown at the New York tournament, started with over one hundred players, is a fight between four European players from the top twelve of the world. Huberney Catano was the last Colombian who was eliminated: he was outplayed by Blomdahl in the quarterfinals 40-21 in 24.
Dick Jaspers showed his confidence, focus and form, first when he met Alexander Salazar (40-24 in 22) and in the quarters in a one-side match against Marco Zanetti, who was far down after a slow start and eventually lost 40-26 in sixteen innings.
Frédéric Caudron defeated one of the best young players in New York, Sameh Sidhom, in a thrilling final stage 40-37 in 22, after the Egyptian had missed by a kiss at 38-37.
Murat Naci Coklu knocked out his famous countryman Semih Sayginer in the first round by 40-36 in eighteen and was beaten by Tayfun Tasdemir in the next round 40-28 in 18.
Andrés Lizarazo, one of the star players, realizes that he is out on two caroms against Frédéric Caudron
The results in the quarter finals:
Torbjörn Blomdahl-Eddy Merckx 40-30 (18)
Huberney Catano-Jose Juan Garcia 40-31 (26)
Tayfun Tasdemir-Lars Dunch 40-35 (36)
Murat Naci Coklu-Semih Sayginer 40-36 (18)
Dick Jaspers Alexander Salazar 40-24 (22)
Marco Zanetti-Pedro Piedrabuena 40-37 (26)
Sameh Sidhom-Roland Forthomme 40-36 (21)
Frédéric Caudron-Andrés Lizarazo 40-38 (32).
The semi-finals:
Jaspers Caudron
Blomdahl-Tasdemir.