3-Cushion
ISTANBUL - The fifth World Cup this season, after Luxor, Porto, Ho Chi Minh and Guri, was officially opened with a very stylish ceremony this morning. The chairman of the Turkish billard federation Ersan Ercan and UMB sports director Farouk Barki welcomed the 32 players, officials, referees and spectators for the main tournament in the wonderful tournament hall of Zeytinoglu Caddesi in Besiktas. The World Cup organizer opened its doors for another three-day's battle and immediately was proved how close the world class players are to each other.
Torbjörn Blomdahl was already knocked down in the very first session and Dani Sánchez could only survive in a man-to-man race decided on one carom.
The Dutchman Jean Paul de Bruijn was almost eliminated in the pre-tournament, came in by the back door and was not really a favorite to beat Torbjörn Blomdahl, the world's number one, on this first day. But yet he did it, the second Dutchman in the main tournament: sovereign in the final performance in which Blomdahl couldn't match with the power of his opponent, who could proudly put the Dutch flag in top after his victory.
Jean Paul de Bruijn - that must be really sure - has no intention of giving up his top-12 spot without a fight. With his great technical skills as one of the world's best one cushion players, he also has gradually made three cushion to become his specialty. Mental toughness and technic do not always mix, but when De Bruijn is on his best, all the world's best are warned. He showed it on the first day of the knockout in the World Cup: Blomdahl ran into an early deficit (18-13), always remained close to his opponent and took the lead after a run of seven (20-19). But at the end of the match, De Bruijn started his turbo to win even with a nine-points margin 40-31 in 18 (2.222/1.722).
It was the second World Cup in a row in which Blomdahl took a moderate score: after last month in Guri, where he was outplayed by Colombian Juan Jose Garcia in the second round, now by Jean Paul de Bruijn in the first. The Dutchman may prepare now for his next game, tomorrow against the winner of Forthomme/Bayatli.
Dani Sánchez, stuntman and record man in Guri, was on his way to end up as the second victim. He couldn't show the form that he had for weeks against Vietnamese Anh Vu Duong. The match was in balance until 14-14, then Duong attacked to 22-15 and 26-20. In a thrilling final battle, the Vietnamese left so many opportunities to his opponent, that Sánchez ultimately could take the victory 40-39 in 38 innings!
Jung Han Heo was the best man in the first round with a big margin against Javier Palazón (40-14 in 16) and Quyet Chien Tran outplayed Semih Sayginer in front of the camera's of the Turkish television. The home favorite, tormented by another Vietnamese, Nguyen Quoc Nguyen in the last World Cup in Guri, entered the tournament Istanbul with a wildcard, but could not score again, where the home crowd in Istanbul supported him so much. Tran triumphed in the part of the match in which Sayginer was unable to strike: 40-35 in 23.
Eddy Merckx may lose a match against Eddy Leppens in their own country, but he rarely is beaten by his countryman on the global stage. The Belgian clash ended in favor of Merckx again, without being in trouble at the end: 40-32 in 21. Jae Ho Cho had a lucky finish against Ahmet Alp. The Turk needed three caroms for a draw, but missed a simple shot for his second point.
Quoc Nguyen Nguyen sent away the South-American wildcard player Luis Aveiga (40-29 in 40). The third Asian winner in the second round, although with a close finish, was Hyung Bum Hwang. The Korean coming man lost a big lead against Vinh The Ly and allowed his opponent to come back to 40-40. The Korean was also vulnerable in the penalty shootout with two from the break, but Ly missed out for his second carom.
Jung Han Heo
Eddy Merckx defeated Eddy Leppens
Quyet Chien Tran in his match against Semih Sayginer
Dani Sánchez took the match on one carom