3-Cushion
The return of the champion was a bit overshadowed by the performance at the other table. Dick Jaspers of course won his match against Pierre Soumagne, but the audience especially applauded in the Agipi arena to Jérémy Bury in his match of tonight against Kyung-Roul Kim.
The Korean, who fought for his last chance, opened the battle with a great run of fifteen, but his French opponent was hardly impressed. He replied almost immediately with eleven cashed his marvellous match later in the thirteenth inning with a run of thirteen, which brought him to the finis: 50-28.
It was only one turn away from the record of the Agipi Masters, which was played by Filipos Kasidokostas last year with a match in twelve innings against Dani Sánchez. But the fifty points in thirteen innings (3.846 average) is for Bury a new French record, which makes the victory historic. The previous record was held by Jean Christophe Roux with eighteen innings.
Kyung-Roul Kim, who first put a score of 22-20 on the board in six innings, had a great start, but Bury then exploded and played a formidable match, went on to 28 points, took a 35-22 lead in eleven innings and ran with his final run of thirteen unthreatened to the finish.
It means the early end of the Masters for Kyung-Roul Kim, the worlds number two, who played the final in Trabzon last week, beating by Eddy Merckx. The victory of Jérémy Bury makes him to a favorite in his matches against Jaspers and Heo for two places in the final round.
The 29-year-old Frenchman will be a big contender if he plays only a fraction less than what he showed the audience tonight. He was strong at all positions, solid and played with conviction. Bury never had a dull moment and wasn't impressed by the reputation of his opponent. ,,Yes, of course it is by far the best I've shown in my career until now'', said Bury. ,,This is a very glorious first day of the qualifications, but there are still two tough opponents on my way. Jung Han Heo and Dick Jaspers. So I still have much work to do.''
Dick Jaspers needed almost a full match to find his rhythm tonight. The Dutchman had to play his first match at nine o'clock tonight and spent the long hours especially in his hotel room. Jaspers swears in the build up to matches and tournaments at rest and he keeps his body in shape by running sessions. ,,That is increasingly important, because I want to be mentally and phisically fully fit'', he told the night before the start.
The double winner of the Masters should normally qualify in a group with Kyung-Roul Kim, Jung Han Heo, Jérémy Bury and Pierre Soumagne, but has been warned today. The two rounds showed that current top matches are often unpredictable, as Kim had experienced previously against Heo and Caudron against Merckx.
Jaspers won his match against Soumagne after a lead of the Frenchman at the half way point by 25-24. Then the Dutchman ran towards the finish with 50-36 in 30 innings.