3-Cushion
IZMIR - The Turkish city of Izmir is the stage for two world championships three cushion from 18 to 23 September 2018. The ladies launch the double with Japanese Orie Hida as the title defender, followed by the juniors, entering the arena with the Spaniard Carlos Anguita as the reigning champion. The organizing city is the second port city of Turkey with a population of over four million.
The big favorites among the ladies are the 42-year-old Japanese Orie Hida, who beat 20-year-old Korean Mi Rae Lee in the final of last year's championship. Hida took her fourth world title. The Dutch Therese Klompenhouwer, who was dethroned in the Belgian Zoersel last year after two world titles in a row, is the main challenger. Mi Rae Lee did not qualify because she is the number two in South Korea. The Koreans show up in the ladies tournament with Bo Mi Kim.
As the organizing country, Turkey has three players on the list of participants: Gülsen Degener, because she won the ladiescup in Rosmalen, may certainly be counted among the outside players. Güzin Mujde Karakasli and Aysegul Fendi are the two other players from the homeland. Colombia has three players in the field as well, Japan starts with Orie Hida and Ayako Sakai, the Netherlands and Korea only with Therese Klompenhouwer and Bo Mi Kim.
Orie Hida played some strong tournaments this year in her own country. Bo Mi Kim has developed strongly as the number one in Korea. Srong Pheavy, the Cambodian, is one of the dark horses on the international stage.
Carlos Anguita grabbed the title last year in his own Spanish town Narejos, where he defeated Korean Beom Yeol Lee. The Korean Myung Woo Cho, the big favorite, disappointed in the Spanish billiard clavine, but as a well known World Cup player, he is the player with the best palmares. Anguita plays his last junior championship. ,,I can't play the Europeans next year, because of my age. This is my last chance to take a junior title. I know the Koreans are very strong, but they are not unbeatable.'' The title holder made many hours at the table last month. ,,We practiced with Jose Maria Quetglas, our federation coach, during two weeks, Mario Mercader. And these weeks together with Mr. Carrasco, many hours per day in our traing center in Los Narejos..''
The French Gwendal Maréchal and Maxime Panaia are certainly among the contenders. Gwendal Maréchal was on the podium in Spain last year, Maxime Panaia is the French junior champion and is one of the promising talents in three cushion.
The matches are played in the Halkapinar Sport Hall. The format of the groups with four players:
Women from 18 to 20 September:
Group A:
Orie Hida (Jap) reigning champion
Jeanette Jensen (Dan)
Steffi Daske (Ger)
Sruong Pheavy (Cam)
Group B:
Gülsen Degener (Tur)
Sandoval Johana (Col)
Lalinde Claudia (Col)
Ayako Sakai (Jap)
Group C:
Therese Klompenhouwer (Neth)
Helga Mitterböck (Aus)
Castillo Paola (Col)
Güzin Mujde Karakasli (Tur)
Group D:
Jackeline Perez (Per)
Jaimie Buelens (Bel)
Bo Mi Kim (Kor)
Aysegul Fendi (Tur)
Juniors from 21 to 23 September:
Group A:
Carlos Anguita (Spa) regerend kampioen
Mahmoud Ayman (Eg)
Maxime Panaia (Fr)
Bjorn Mikkel Jensen (Den)
Group B:
Gwendal Maréshal (Fr)
Myung Woo Cho (Kor)
Santiago Ocampo (Col)
Alperen Cebeoglu (Tur)
Group C:
Cristopher Ramirez (Per)
Mario Mercader (Spa)
Stef van Hees (Bel)
Daehyeon Jang (Kor)
Group D:
Syouta Funaki (Jap)
Julian Vasquez (Col)
Joey de Kok (Neth)
Arda Güngor (Tur).
The Japanese Orie Hida, fourfold world champion and reigning champion in Izmir