3-Cushion
The splendid start of Martin Horn in his first match for the Agipi Masters against Tayfun Tasdemir, seemed to give the German green light for a splendid and easy victory. With a score of 25-17 in twelve innings and five innings later a run of eight, Horn took an advantage of twelve points. The lead, 40-28 in seventeen innings, inspired his opponent to a comeback. Tasdemir reduced the score to two points (42-40), also because Horn only made seven points in the next ten innings. The tension rose at the end of the match, but at 47-45 Horn made an end to the game with a run of three.
The German so gave himself a nice present for his fortieth birthday, he smiled later. ,,I had a very good start, but then I felt some nerves coming up. And because Tasdemir kept scoring, it was at the end still very difficult to gain the important points. But I succeeded and I am very happy with it.''
Michael Nilsson is the second opponent for Horn tonight. The Swede at the other table had a same start as the German, the only difference was that Nilsson forgot to keep his opponent far enough behind. Javier Palazón, the young Spaniard, looked at a 29-14 score after seventeen innings, but then pulled the match to his side.
The former junior world champion first made a run of eight in the 26th inning, returned into the match and equalized in the 30th inning to 39-39. Nilsson had no more feeling in the final rush and lost his confidence, Palazón benefited optimally and closed the match with a run of six in the 36th inning: 50-41.
Martin Horn signed for the highest average in this round (1.786), Tasdemir stayed not so far behind with 1,607. Javier Palazón crowned his win with an average of 1.388, for Nilsson 1.138 was noted.