3-Cushion
GURI - The World Cup toernooi in Guri (Korea) is underway, and like last year in Suwon, unknown but proficient Korean players are scrambling for a place in the next round. The leader on the openingday was Hong Jin Pyo, who remained undefeated and averaged 1.666.
Jang Nam Guk was a close second with 1.304. The other winners of their flight: Jung Ho Suk, Seo Chang Hoon, Cho Jung Duck, Lim Tae Soo, Kim Jong Wan, Sin Nam Ho, Kang Sang Ku, Kim Hyung Kon, Kim Young Seob, Lee Tae Hyun, all from the host country.
Amongst the players who ended second, we find Seo Hyun Min (1.404), Cho Chi Yeon (1.375) and veteran Hwang Durk Hee (1.302). That illustrates how strong and deep Korean three cushion is. There was disappointment for Sang Um Pil, who last year amazed us with the best match in the qualification stage: 4.285. He was third and last this time, averaging just 1.000.
Multiple youth world champion Haeng Jik Kim could not progress either. He played his first tournament after being hospitalized for a severe stroke, and immediately produced a high level (1.404). In his two matches, he was short only a single carom, and could consider it unlucky that it sent him home.
On the second day, it was once again a Korean who topped the charts: Lim Tae Soo advanced with an average of 1.666. Sin Nam Ho was not far behind with 1.578, and Kim Yeong Seob played the flight with 1. 463 over.
The other winners who advanced: Jang Nam Guk, Hong Jin Pyo, Mori Yusuke, Mauricio Aguilar, Cho Jung Duck, Luu Hong Van, Kang Sang Ku, Nguyen Duc An Chien and Lee Tae Hyun. Amongst the non-qualifiers were Namiko Hayashi and the first Dutch player, Alvaro Schepers.