Sharpshooters make victims

ANTALYA - Have you ever heard of Savas Bulut, the Turk who played the final of a big tournament in his country not so long ago and lost after a strong performance against Adnan Yüksel. He is one of the upcoming Turks of today and showed that to the crowd in the World Cup in Antalya this afternoon.

The 37-year-old former student at the Technical university of Yildiz didn't only win 2-0 against Can Capak, moreover he ran a formidable average (3.333) and made with fourteen the highest run of the tournament so far.

Savas Bulut will meet another competitor for next round this afternoon: the Belgian Roland Forthomme, who also defeated Can Capak. The decider in the group will undoubtedly be a thrilling fight.

How strong the matches are today, was seen on many tables, for instance by Kouji Funaki, the Japanese who beat Peter Ceulemans (2-0, 3.000 average) and Glenn Hoffman against Hakan Incekara (2-0 for the Dutchman, 2.500 average).

Three players, who undoubtedly had expected more of this World Cup, are already out of the game after the first sessions. The Belgian Eddy Leppens suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat (1.083) against Gokhan Salman, who had lost his first match 2-1 against Jose-Maria Mas.

Peter Ceulemans couldn't shine at all in his duel with Volkan Cimentepe, in which he remained under one average and lost 2-1. His second match was a torture: the Belgian was completely blown off the table 15-6, 15-1 by the indomitable Japanese.

Jean van Erp could not blame himself too much: the shape was there, the average was good (1.560 and 1.625), nevertheless he lost both games against Jean Reverchon and Javier Palazón.

Radek Novak started in his group with a 2-0 victory against Gerhard Kostistansky, the Austrian beat in his second match Jung Han Heo.

Barry van Beers, the shining star of yesterday, lost his first match against Raimond Burgman, but then repared against Koray Kirman. He has to wait for the result in the last match between Burgman and Kirman.

Can Capak, the man who eliminated Dick Jaspers in the last World Cup in Hurghada, may go home after two defeats against Savas Bulut and Roland Forthomme. The Belgian won (like Bulut before) 2-0 (15-10, 15-11) and made a strong impression with 1.666 average.