NEW YORK - The 98 men and women players for the Open Verhoeven (start today, Tuesday 9.30, New York time) are divided into sixteen groups of six players. They play a round robin with matches to 25 caroms. The top two from each group advance to the next round. Forty players (32 from the qualification, six seeded players, two from the lottery then show up in four groups of ten, playing to 35 caroms in a classic round robin. Finally, the top four places in each group advance to the final round with sixteen for the knockout, played to 40 points.
The tournament in the Carom Cafe in Flushing, New York, with a total prize money of 34.750 dollars, lasts from Tuesday to Sunday. The entry fee was 385 dollars for players over 0.800 average, 285 for players below 0.800.
The first prize is 8.000 dollars, second prize 5000, the number three and four are rewarded by 4.000 and 3.500 dollars. The twenty best in the final ranking share in the prize money.
Torbjörn Blomdahl is last year's winner. Six players are seeded for the second round: Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Frédéric Caudron, Raymond Ceulemans and Marco Zanetti.
The draw for the sixteen groups of six players was on Monday night. The group heads were include Tayfun Tasdemir, Roland Forthomme, Pedro Piedrabuena, Semih Sayginer, Therese Klompenhouwer, Huberney Catano, Michael Kang, Murat Naci Coklu, Sameh Sidhom, Luis Avega, Peter Ceulemans, Jose Juan Garcia and Hugo Patino.
The top four last year, left to right Frédéric Caudron, Torbjörn Blomdahl (winner), Eddy merckx (finalist) and Dick Jaspers.
The full result:
Group A:
Peter Ceulemans, Rufino Perez, Jim Shovak, Armando Rodriguez, Vinny Siemaszko, Joe D'Annunzio.
Group B:
Young Gull Lee, Olivia Lee, Peer Harpsoe, Jim Watson, Steve Kreditor, Young Ha Choi.
Group C:
Pedro Piedrabuena, Song lim, Ismail El Habrouk, Mercedes Gonzalez, Gerard ten Lohuis, Sruong Pheavy.
Group D:
Jose Juan Garcia, Ronald van Geyt, Carlos Palafox, Tim Gorrebeeck, Karina Jetten, Kyung Soo Yim.
Group E:
Huberney Catano, Mike Chen, Bert van Manen, Carlos Campino, Kim Staarup, Lars Dunch.
Group F:
Therese Klompenhouwer, Hyuk Yoon, Nam K Cho, Ira Lee, Roger Sequira, Namiko Hayashi.
Group G:
Luis Aveiga, John Tomassetti, Robinson Morales, Jim Bishop, Don Sperber, Carlos Villegas.
Group H:
Hugo Patino, Kaj Olsen, Raye Raskin, Vass, Sergio Tapia, Harry Reyes.
Group I:
Semih Sayginer, Juan Uribe, Wesley de Jaeger, Robert Raiford, Ricardo Carranco, Tae Kyu Lee.
Group J:
Sameh Sidhom, John Christiano, Tony, Alexander Salazar, Khalil Diab, Christian Portilla.
Group K:
Regay Henry, Lloyd Wallace, Chris Bartzos, Kim Bengtsson, Eric Kwon, Manuel Riano.
Group L:
Michael Kang, George Hobson, Jerry Geist, Hugo Flores, Brian Haff, Michael Hansen.
Group M:
Tayfun Tasdemir, Andres Lizarazo, Philippe Malsert, Luca Tomassetti, Sang Jin Lee, Christian Andersen.
Group N:
Murat Naci Coklu, Germy Rivera, Thomas Holmehoj, Joel Switala, Arturo Herrera, Dan Johansen.
Group O:
Roland Forthomme, Tony Lam, Francisco Loiaza, Kurt Ceulemans, Martin Olesen, Mark An.
Group P:
Miguel Tores, Allan Jensen, Charles DeLome, William Oh, Jordy de Kruijf, Pablo Flores.
Today's first session:
Peter Ceulemans-Joe D’Annuncio, Rufino Perez-Vinny Siemaszko, Jim Shovak-Armando Rodriguez, Young Gull Lee-Young Ha Choi, Olivia Lee-Steve Kreditor, Peer Hapsoe-Jim Watson, Pedro Piedrabuena-Sruong Pheavy, Song Lim-Gerard ten Lohuis, Ismail El Habrouk-Mercedes Gonzalez, Jose Juan Garcia-Kyung Soo Yim.
Merril Hughes for the draw in the main tournament
The day schedule:
10:30
Roland Van Geyt vs Karina Jetten
Carlos Palafox vs Tim Gorrebbeck
Huberney Cataño vs Lars Dunch
Mike Chen vs Kim Staarup
Bert van Manen vs Carlos Campiño
T. Klompenhouwer vs Namiko Hayashi
Hyunk Yoon vs Roger Seguira
Nam K Cho vs Ira Lee
Wesley de Jaeger vs Robert Raiford
Ricky Carranco vs Juan Uribe
11:30
Semih Sayginer vs Tae Kyu Lee
Roland Forthomme vs Mark An
Tony Lam vs Martin Olesen
Francisco Loaiza vs Kurt Ceulemans
Rufino Perez vs Armando Rodriguez
Jim Shovak vs Joe D'Annunzio
Young Gull Lee vs Steve Kreditor
Oliva Lee vs Jim Watson
Peer Harpsoe vs Young Ha Choi
12:45
Pedro Piedrabuena vs Gerard Ten Lohuis
Song Lim vs Mercedes Gonzalez
Ismail El Habrouk vs Sroung Pheavy
Jose Juan García vs Karina Jetten
Ronald van Geyt vs Tim Gorrebeeck
Carlos Palafox vs Kyung Soo Yim
Huberney Cataño vs Kim Staarup
Mike Chen vs Carlos Campiño
Bert van Manen vs Lars Duch
Therese Klompenhouwer vs Roger Seguira
13:50
Hyunk Yoon vs Ira Lee
Nam K Cho vs Namiko Hayashi
Semih Sayginer vs Ricardo Carranco
Juan Uribe vs Robert Raiford
Wesley de Jaeger vs Tae Kyu Lee
Roland Forthomme vs Martin Olesen
Tony Lam vs Kurt Ceulemans
Francisco Loaiza vs Mark An
Luis Aveiga vs Carlos M Villegas
Jhon Tomassetti vs Don Sperber
15:00
Robinson Morales vs Jim Bishop
Sameh Sidhom vs Chistian Portilla
Jhon Christiano vs Khalil Diab
Tony vs Alexander Salazar
Ragay Henry vs Manuel Riaño
Lloyd Wallace vs Eric Kwon
Chris Bartzos vs Kim Bengtsson
Michael Kang vs Michael Hansen
George Hobson vs Brian Haff
Gerry Geist vs Hugo Flores
16:15
Tayfun Tasdemir vs Christian Andersen
Andres Lizarazo vs Sang Jin Lee
Philippe Malsert vs Luca Tomassetti
Murat Naci Coklu vs Dan Johansen
Germy Rivera vs Arturo Herrera
Thomas Holmehoj vs Joel Switala
Hugo Patiño vs Harry Reyes
Kaj Olsen vs Sergio Tapia
Raye Raskin vs Vass
Miguel Torres vs Pablo Flores
17:20
Alan Jensen vs Jordy de Krujif
Charles DeLorme vs William Oh
Luis Aveiga vs Don Sperber
Jhon Tomassetti vs Jim Bishop
Robinson Morales vs Carlos Villegas
Sameh Sidhom vs Khalil Diab
Jhon Cristiano vs Alexander Salazar
Tony vs Christian Portilla
Ragay Henry vs Eric Kwon
Lloyd Waliace vs Kim Begtsson
18:30
Chris Bartzos vs Manuel Riaño
Michael Kang vs Brian Haff
George Hobson vs Hugo Flores
Jerry Geist vs Michael Hansen
Tayfun Tasdemir vs Sang Jin Lee
Andres Lizarazo Luca Tomassetti
Philippe Malsert vs Christian Anderson
Murat Naci Coklu vs Arturo Herrera
Germy Rivera vs Joel Switala
Thomas Hulmehoj vs Don Johansen
19:30
Hugo Patiño vs Sergio Tapia
Kaj Oisen vs Vass
Raye Raskin vs Harry Reyes
Miguel Torres vs Jordy De Krujif
Allan Jensen vs Wlliam Oh
Charles DeLorme vs Pablo Flores.