3-Cushion
PORTO - The high class demonstration Korean Jung-Han Heo showed in the early hours of the day rose above all things in the later hours. Even Dani Sánchez, with two exciting wins, 3.333 and 2.666 was in the shadow of the match that lasted only nine innings (4.444 of average). The Korean is seen now as one of the main favourites after his victories against Frédéric Caudron and Choong-Bok Lee.
Torbjörn Blomdahl couldn't match for one time with all this power in his 29-innings win over Manuel Rui Costa. Dick Jaspers was the closest when he beat Pedro Piedrabuena (thirteen innings). The final day is approaching with a tremendous warmup on this Saturday evening (17.00 and 19.00), amongst other with the Spanish friends clash between Sánchez and Legazpi.
The miraculous comeback that Sánchez made against Jean Paul de Bruijn (20-9 behind at the break to a 40-23 win), with runs of ten and eleven in the final part) was awarded with another great applause as the world match Jung Han Heo performed. The public hero was even disturbed for a minute in his interview in front of the cameras by a phone call from the FC Porto president. ,,It's a great honor for me that he calls me after my match'', Sánchez whispered when he restarted his interview.
Then: ,,I didn't have the feeling that I started bad, but Jean Paul was so good'', said the Spaniard. De Bruijn was in a flow indeed, with a nine and a five run that brought him to a riant lead 20-9.
However, the match turned around completely, because De Bruijn lost his feeling and rhythm, while Sánched, cheered by his home crowd was pushed to great heights. ,,I like to play with De Bruijn'', he said later. ,,He is not only a very strong player, but also a very nice person.''
Dani Sánchez cheered by his home crowd
Both players obviously remembered the World championship final in 2005 which they played against each other in Lugo. Dani Sánchez was unprecedented there as well with over three average.
The number high runs pleased the audience in the first Saturday sessions. Heo made a fourteen, Jaspers 12, 8 and 7 and Birol Uymaz, who defeated Marco Zanetti, also a 12. Dani Sanchez showed his sprint power with eleven and ten.
Dick Jaspers, the defending champion, was looking forward to his match with Jung-Han Heo after his win against Piedraubuena. ,,I was alert from the start in that match'', he said, ,,because Pedro is really a great player. He followed me for a long time when we both played an average around two. But two caroms in the contest were decisive. I started my eight run with a difficult shot and made a twelve in a bad position after a timeout.''
Jae Ho Cho is out after losing to the 33-year-old Hwang Hyung Bum, who also played last year's semi-finals in the Hurghada World Cup. And Jung-Han Heo outplayed another countryman, Choong-Bok Lee. Birol Uymaz continues his way in the tournament with a spectacular victory over Marco Zanetti (40-35 in 19), Anh Vu Duong from Vietnam bested the last Belgian Eddy Leppens (40-34 in 25).
Birol Uymaz celebrates his victory against Marco Zanetti
The program for this evening:
17.00:
Torbjörn Blomahl-Birol Uymaz
Jung-Han Heo-Dick Jaspers
18.30:
Dani Sánchez-Ruben Legazpi
Hyung Bum Hwang-Anh Vu Duong.
Ruben Legazpi shakes hands with Jae Guen Kim and is waiting the match with Dani Sánchez