3-Cushion
NEW YORK - With the little Luca Tomassetti as one of the public faces, Murat Naci Coklu as the best man on the first day, three Turks topping the ranking and two Ceulemans mates in second tier, the Open Verhoeven finished its first day in New York. The sixteen groups of six are vying for 32 places to qualify for the main tournament. The first group stage matches were an indication: the sheep are separated from the goats.
Murat Naci Coklu (four points, 1.923, run 10) is the almost certain winner in the group in which Joel Switala is second with four match points and 0.658. The small Turkish player was the best day's winner and played the best match in seven innings (3.571).
Semih Sayginer had a best start with wins over Ricardo Carranco and Tae Kyu Lee in ten and 17 innings (1.852). Tayfun Tasdemir heads his group (two wins, 1.667) in which Luca Tomassetti played a half point average (five-run).
Peter and Kurt Ceulemans paved the way for their father and grandfather, Therese Klompenhouwer started off with two wins and Pedro Piedrabuena defeated the women's new kid, Sruong Pheavy.
The odds after one day and two matches of five in each group:
Group A:
Peter Ceulemans and Jim Shovak lead with four match points, Ceulemans 1.471 average, Shovak 0.926. Ceulemans scored the highest day run: 12.
Peter Ceulemans, high run 12
Group B:
Peer Harpsoe tops the group with four match points and 0.893. Young Gull Lee is the only player over one average with a loss against Young Ha Choi.
Group C:
Pedro Piedrabuena is the best with four points and 1.613 after victories over Sruong Pheavy (25-16 in 15) and Gerard ten Lohuis. Mercedes Gonzalez remained unbeaten. Pheavy, the second best in the women's tournament, beat Ismail El Habrouk and is in the race for the runner up position.
Group D:
Jose Juan Garcia, former junior world champion, gathered four points and 1.389, the same as Carlos Palafox. Two Dutch in this group already met each other: Karina Jetten bested Ronald van Geyt on one carom after Ronald had missed his match ball.
Group E:
Huberney Catano suffered a surprising loss against Lars Dunck, who is leading with Carlos Campino. Campino has four points and 1.282, Dunch four points, 1.220. Bert van Manen, who recently lit op the sky with a win over Dick Jaspers in the Netherlands, started with two losses.
Group F:
Therese Klompenhouwer and Ira Lee are the main contenders to survive. Both won their first two matches, Therese 1.064, Ira Lee 1.000.
Group G: Luis Aveiga and Robinson Morales are vying the group win with two victories on the first day: Aveiga 1.282, Morales 1.163.
Group H: Hugo Patino is the only player with two wins, Harry Reyes is the runner-up after his loss vs Patino 25-23.
Semih Sayginer had a flawless start
Group I:
Many eyes were on the table where Semih Sayginer made his start: the Turk sparkled in his first performances and defeated Carranco and Lee include a party in ten innings. Belgian Wesley Jaeger is on track with two wins and 0.980.
Group J:
Sameh Sidhom looks superior with 4 points and 1.613 in a group where Alexander Salazar took two wins (1.136).
Group K:
Lloyd Wallace tops the ranks with four points and 0.893, Regay Henry lost on two points against Eric Kwon and is the contender for second place.
Michael Kang, start with two wins
Group L:
Michael Kang, owner of the Carom Cafe, started his mission to beat Brian Hansen and Michael Haff. The American was the only double winner in the group after two rounds.
Group M:
Tayfun Tasdemir is the group master with four points, like Andres Lizarazo, Tasdemir 1.667, Lizarazo 1.190.
Group N:
Murat Naci Coklu played a brilliant match facing Arturo Herrera (25-3 in seven) and is the proud leader in this group. Joel Switala, globetrotter and bon vivant, started with two victories.
Group O:
Roland Forthomme and Kurt Ceulemans lead with the same scores: 4 points, 1.476 of average, high run six. The only threat might come from Martin Olesen, 2 points, 1.044.
Group P:
William Oh stole the show with his two victories, 1.389 and a flawless ten-run. Miguel Torres also remained unbeaten.
William Oh, great starter, with the new star, Sruong Pheavy
Wednesday schedule (from 9.30 New York time)
1st tour:
Peter Ceulemans-Armando Rodriguez, Rufino Perez-Jim Shovak, Vinny Siemaszko, Young Gull Lee-Jim Watson, Olivia Lee-Peer Harpsoe, Steve Kredito-Young Ha Choi, Pedro Piedrabuena-Mercedes Gonzalez, Song Lim-Ismail El Habrouk, Gerard ten Lohuis-Sruong Pheavy, Jose Juan Garcia-Tim Gorrebeeck.
2nd tour:
Ronald van Geyt-Carlos Palafox, Karina Jtten-Kyung Soo Yim, Huberney Catano-Carlos Campino, Mike Chen-Bert van Manen, Kim Straarup-Lars Dunch, Therese Klompenhouwer-Ira Lee, Hyuk Yoon-Nam K Cho, Roger Sequira-Namiko Hayashi, Juan Uribe-Wesley de Jaeger, Ricardo Carranco, Tae Kyu Lee.
3rd tour:
Semih Sayginer-Robert Raiford, Roland Forthomme-Kurt Ceulemans, Dionisio Cid-Francisco Loiaza, Martin Olesen-Mark An, Peter Ceulemans-Jim Shovak, Rufino Perez-Joe D’Annunzio, Armando Rodriguez-Vinny Siemaszko, Young Gull Lee-Peer Harpsoe, Olivia Lee-Young Ha Choi, Jim Watson-Steve Kreditor.
4th tour:
Pedro Piedrabuena-Ismail El Habrouk, Song Lim-Sruong Pheavy, Mercedes Gonzalez-Gerard ten lohuis, Jose Juan Garcia-Carlos Palafox, Ronald van Geyt-Kyung Soo Yim, Tim Gorrebeeck-Karina Jetten, Huberney Catano-Bert van Manen, Mike Chen-Lars Dunch, Carlos Campino-Kim Straarup, Therese Klompenhouwer-Nam K Cho.
5th tour:
Hyuk Yoon-Namiko Hayashi, Ira Lee-Roger Sequira, Semih Sayginer-Wesley de Jaeger, Juan Uribe-Tae Kyu Lee, Robert Raiford-Ricardo Carranco, Roland Forthomme-Francisco Loiaza, Dionisio Cid-Mark An, Kurt Ceulemans-Martin Olesen, Luis Aveiga-Robinson Morales, John Tomassetti-Carlos Vilegas.
6th tour:
Jim Bishop-Don Sperber, Sameh Sidhom-Alexander Salazar, John Christiana-Tony Liberato, Khalil Diab-Christian Portilla, Regay Henry-Kim Bengtsson, Lloyd Walace-Chris Bartzos, Eric Kwon-Manuel Riano, Michael Kang-Hugo Flores, George Hobson-Jerry Geist, Brian Haff-Michael Hansen.
7th tour:
Tayfun Tasdemir-Luca Tomassetti, Andres Lizarazo-Philippe Maisert, Sang Jin Lee-Christian Andersen, Murat Naci Coklu-Joel Switala, Germy Rivera-Thomas Holmehoj, Arturo Herrera-Dn Johansen, Hugo Patino-Vass Vassi, Kaj Olsen-Rayne Raskin, Sergio Tapia-Harry Reyes, Miguel Torres-William Oh.
8th tour:
Allan Jensen-Charles DeLomme, Jordy de Kruijf-Pablo Flores, Luis Aveiga-Jim Bishop, John Tomassetti-Robinson Morales, Don Sperber-Carlos Vilegas, Sameh Sidhom-Tony Liberato, John Cristiano-Christian Pertilla, Alexander Salazar-Khali Diab, Ragay Henry-Lloyd Wallace, Christ Bartzos-Eric Kwon.
9th tour:
Kim Bengtsson-Manuel Riano, Michael Kang-Jerry Geist, George Hobson-Michael Hansen, Hugo Flores-Brian Haff, Tayfun Tasdemir-Philippe Malsert, Andres Liazarazo-Christian Andersen, Luca Tomassetti-Sang Jin Lee, Murat Naci Coklu-Thomas Holmehoj, Germy Rivera-Dan Johansen, Joel Switala-Arturo Herrera.
10th tour:
Hugo Patino-Raye Raskin, Kaj Olsen-Harry Reyes, Vass Vassi-Sergio Tapia, Migue Torres-Charles-DeLorme, Alan Jensen-Pablo Flores, William Oh-Jordy de Kruijf.
Sameh Sidhom, one of the leaders in the group stage