Therese Klompenhouwer: this could be the best ever World championship

08/25/2016

Published by frits bakker

Therese Klompenhouwer, the reigning champion, defeated three fold champion Orie Hida in the group stage

GURI - On the opening day in Guri, the first clash between Therese Klompenhouwer, reigning ladies world champion in 3-cushion, and Orie Hida, the most successful player in history (three world titles) ended in a hard fought 25-24 in 23 victory for the Dutch woman. Both favorites for the world title played an exciting match, with the best start for Hida (18-6) and the better finish for Klompenhouwer, who passed the Japanese veteran just before the finish line. The reigning champion was happy with the result. ,,I did not have the best of starts and wanted a break halfway, but it was disallowed. It turned out to be a misunderstanding about the rules, the organization apologized to me about it, after the match. I felt a short pause would do me good because I was not playing all that well and Hida made every point that was on the table, in the first ten innings.''

Therese Klompenhouwer has made her assessment of the competition on the first day. ,,From what I've seen, this could be the best WC ever. The Asians are really strong, which was to be expected. Three or four more years, and they will dominate I think. These countries have such potential, they get better and better. We should maybe admit that we, Europeans, are simply coming up short. They are making progress, where most Europeans have been stationary for years now.''

One of the major talents is 21-year old Mee Rae Lee (her Korean first name means "future").She is seen as one of the players who could become world class. Mee Rae lives in Bundang, which is an hour's drive from Seoul, she studies sports sciences and has played billiards since she was thirteen. ,,In my early years, I was taught by Choong Bok Lee, but now my dad is my coach'', says Mee Rae, who admires Therese Klompenhouwer. ,,Not only is she the world champion, she also made it into the main draw of the Guri World Cup last year. That is my big dream.''

There are not too many high averages on the cards, after the first day of this WC. Therese Klompenhouwer has four points and 1.162, which puts her on top of the ranking so far. Hida has two points and 1.139. Both players made a good run: the Dutch woman started her match against Irena Hambalkova with an eight, Orie Hida produced a nine in her first match.

The American Ester Park, who got married in Korea last year, is heading the toughest flight of the four. She first beat Gülsen Degener 25-11 in 33 and then Karina Jetten 25-17 in 38. Ester Park is a fixture in the Carom Cafe in New York, and in Guri she is coached by Verhoeven Open tournament director Charles Brown. Hayashi, Degener and Jetten will battle for second place and a spot in the quarterfinals tomorrow. Ester Park works in a New York law firm, she is 30 years old and related to the legendary Sang Lee, whose wife is Ester's sister. She is Korean born, has lived in the USA for a very long time now and plays her third world championship. So far, she has never reached the knockout stage. Charly Brown: ,,She has changed cues, she now plays with a Molinari and it gives her confidence. The Molinari brand also sponsors her now.''

Therese Klompenhouwer already advanced to the knock-outs, Orie Hida almost assured of a place in the quarters, Marianne Mortensen and Irena Hambalkova are de facto eliminated. Mee Rae Lee beat Belgian Danielle Le Bruyn 25-19 in 45 in the second round, and leads flight C ahead of Shin Young Lee, who beat Monique Wilkowski 25-10 in 30. Le Bruyn could still end second in her group, with a match to play against Shin Young Lee.

Japanese Yuko Nishimoto is leading flight D with four points. She beat Helga Mitterböck in the second round: 25-22 in 40. Min A Kim from Korea is second with two match points. She will play Mitterböck tomorrow, for a place in the quarters. The matches on Friday will start at 11.00 Korean time, and can be watched live on Kozoom.