3-Cushion
More tension has seldom been seen in one round in the Agipi arena. Two matches in the first round of today, between the Korean Dong-Koong Kang and Jae-Ho Cho and on the other table between Tayfun Tasdemir and Jean-Christophe Roux almost ended in two equal scores. The Frenchman made the equalizer for 50-50, Jae-Ho Cho scored from the break-off, but missed his last ball.
The 50-50 on one scoreboard and the 50-49 on the other was the outcom of a pretty curious session. Tayfun Tasdemir saw a lead of twelve points at the end of the match disappear, in the Korean match the same thing happened. Dong-Koong Kang was saved by the bell, because his opponent missed the last point.
The Korean winner didn't whow any emotion, Tayfun Tasdemir so much more. The amiable Turk spoke before the cameras about his very unlucky year in billiards and private. He now wants to focus again on the game. ,,But I tell you, it's hard for me to keep my concentration.''
Jean-Christophe Roux availed of the sudden collapse of his opponent with a strong come back in the final sprint: he made 28 points in his last eight innings. The full win just slipped him away, because he saw his last point in the penultimate inning just turn around the third ball.
Dong-Koong Kang led by 34-24 after 25 innings, Cho had a strong middle of the match with a run of eight to 41-39. Then Kang broke away to 46-36, but the climax came at 48-48. Kang finished with two in the 40th inning, Cho scored from the break-off, but missed the equalizer.
Tonight at 21.00 Tasdemir plays in this group against Kang, Roux against Cho.