Sixteen groups with three players in main event

MEDELLIN - At the Pan American championship the main tournament has been launched today (Thursday) with sixteen groups of three players vying for sixteen places in the knockout rounds. The three players in the groups meet in matches to thirty caroms.

From 48 players, 19 are from Colombia, five from Peru and Argentina, four from Chile and Ecuador, three from the United States and Costa Rica, two from Bolivia and Panama and one from Venezuela.

Alexander Salazar, the number 3 at the World championship in Antwerp, started with a loss against his country man Luis Martinez, who finished at 27-27 with 3 in 16 innins. Ramon Rodriguez suffered a painful defeat in his group match against Chilean Guillermo Perez (30-22 in 28). Guilermo Ledezema defeated Marco Sobarzo 30-25 in 34, Henry Diaz bested abriel Vasquez 30-22 in 26. Fabian Olivetto from Argentina started off with an excellent win over Carlos Nunez from Panama: Olivetto won in 17 innings.

Pedro Piedrabuena is divided in a group with Manuel Lindao from Ecuador and Erick Tellez from Costa Rica.

Other favorites:
Huberney Catano plays with Luis Lopez and Maximo Aquire

Carlos Campino with Andres Lizarazo and Oscar Ticona

Julian Torres with Oscar Pachas and Michael Kang

Javier Teran with Oscar Barquero and Hugo Patino

Alexander Salazar with Luis Martinez and Juan Sisternas

Luis Aveiga with Hugo Miranda and Rogelio Morales.

The format and the groups (all matches on 3 and 4 July):

Group A

Pedro Piedrabuena (USA)-Manuel Lindao (ECU)
Erick Tellez (Costa Rica)-Pedro Piedrabuena (USA) -
Erick Tellez-Manuel Lindao

Group B

Carlos Campiño (COL)-Andres Lizarazo (COL)
Oscar Ticona (Bol)-Carlos Campiño (COL)
Oscar Ticona (Bol)-Andres Lizarazo (COL)

Group C

Humberto Aristizabal (COL)-Juan C Cartagena (COL)
Jose Juan Garcia (COL)-loser
Jose Juan Garcia (COL)-winner

Group D

Huberney Cataño (COL)-Luis Lopez (COL)
perdeMaximo Aguirre (PER)-loser
Maximo Aguirre (PER)-winner

Group E:

Julian Torres (COL)-Oscar Pachas (PER)
Michael Kang (USA)-loser
Michael Kang (USA)-winner

Group F

Henry Diaz (COL)-Gabriel Vasquez (COL)
Juan C Salto (COL)-Gabriel Vasquez (COL)
Juan C Salto (COL)-Henry Diaz (COL)

Group G

Marco Sobarzo (CHI)-Jose Ledezma (ARG)
Robinson Morales (COL)-loser
Robinson Morales (COL)-winner

Group H

Ramón Rodriguez (PER)-Guillermo Perez (ARG)
Carlos Guerra (CHI)-Ramón Rodriguez (PER)
Carlos Guerra (CHI)-Guillermo Perez (ARG)

Group I

Carlos Nuñez (PAN)-Fabian Oliveto (ARG)
Jose Torreblanca (PER)-loser
Jose Torreblanca (PER)-winner

Group J

Alexander Salazar (COL)-Luis Martinez (COL)
Juan P Sisternas (ARG)-loser
Juan P Sisternas (ARG)-winner

Group K

Hugo Patiño (USA)-Oscar Barquero (Costa Rica)
Javier Terán (ECU)-loser
Javier Terán (ECU)-winner

Group L

Hugo Miranda (CHI)-Rogelio Morales (CR)
Luis Aveiga (ECU)-loser
Luis Aveiga (ECU)-winner

Group M

Guido Saco (PER)-Alejandro Piza (COL)
Idelfonso Alvarez (Bol)-loser
Idelfonso Alvarez (Bol)-winner

Group N

Pedro Gonzalez (COL)-Jefferson Troya (ECU)
Carlos M Villegas (COL)-loser
Carlos M Villegas (COL)-winner

Group O

José Gonzalez (PAN)-Felipe Gallegos (CHI)
Fernando Diaz (COL)-loser
Fernando Diaz (COL)-winner

Group P

Arturo Toledo (CHI)-Michel Lozano (COL)
Miguel Canton (VEN)-loser
Miguel Canton (VEN)-winner.