Polish audience introduced to high class three cushion

WROCLAW- The Polish billiards world, small and unknown, has been introduced to the world top in three cushion at the World Games in Wroclaw. The Spanish world champion Dani Sánchez showed his high class, the American Hugo Patino made a strong entrance, the Vietnamese Quyet Chien Tran was sublime in his opening match and Sameh Sidhom won his match without being in trouble.

How would the Polish spectators have respond to the four matches in which three winners played over two average? The first player from the hosting country, David Tonojan, obviously had no chanche at all to beat Sánchez, who swept him from the table with 40-9 in 14 innings. Averages: 2.857 for the Spaniard, 0.642 for the Pool.

The second Pole, substitute for Sung-Won Choi, will not be much better than that. The Dutch arbiter Paul Brekelmans told us that Mateusz Sniegocki, Pedro Piedrabuena's opponent, is a pool player, who reveived his first lesson in three cushion last Sunday. The Polish billiards federation has nothing better to offer and that's logical. There are exactly two match tables throughout the country.

Hugo Patino, one of the top five players in America, surprised with a strong victory over Javier Palazón on the first day (40-19 in 17 innings). Quyet Chien Tran had a poor start against Huberney Cataño (15-6 in 13 innings), but then attacked tot he finish with 34 caroms in six: 40-18 in 19. The Vietnamese scored an 11, the highest day run. The Egyptian Sameh Sidhom easily joined the last eight by a victory over Eric Tellez from Costa Rica: 40-25 in 21.

Today, as of 10.00, the four other matches in the opening session are played.

10.00: Marco Zanetti-Kostas Kokkoris
12.30: Pedro Piedrabuena-Mateusz Sniegocki
15:00: Eddy Leppens-Can Capak
17.30: Dick Jaspers-Ryuji Umeda.

The matches can be followed live at www.wcbs-billiards.org/world-games-live-stream-links/

The American Hugo Patino had a blistering start against Javier Palazón

Dani Sänchez, the world champion, started with an easy win over the Polish amateur Tonojan

Egyptian Sameh Sidhom joined easily the best eight at the World Games