3-Cushion
PORTO - The World Cup in Porto is only two hours on the road in the main tournament and has lost already two of its great champions. Frédéric Caudron, the world champion, lost in the first round to his countryman Roland Forthomme, Marco Zanetti was eliminated by Murat Naci Coklu.
The Korean Jae Ho Cho, another top twelve player and the winner of the World Cup in Istanbul this year, neither survived the first session: Nikos Polychronopoulos sent him back home in an impeccable match.
Roland Forthomme, Nikos Polychronopoulos, Murat Naci Coklu and Murat Tüzül may return in the arena tomorrow for the next round. Caudron’s shutdown is fairly sensitive, because the Belgian loses in this World Cup the maximum number of 80 points he gained in the World Cup of Hurghada 2012.
Roland Forthomme looked pretty sober after his win over Caudron. ,,He is the world champion, but also an ordinary Belgian and a good friend. I can win and I can lose when I meet him at the table.’’ His last win is very recently: in the Belgian cup in sets this year.
The Belgian clash now started with a strong Roland Forthomme at the start (run of 9), a constant ten points lead and eventually, 30-21 and 40-30 for the win in 20 innings (2.000/1.500).
Marco Zanetti was led to the slaughter slightly earlier by Murat Naci Coklu in a match with not so many chances and luck for the Italian master: 40-27 in 19 innings (2.105/1.500).
Nikos Polychronopoulos defeated Jae Ho Cho 40-24 in 23 innings, partly thanks to a run of ten. And Murat Tüzül had the longest breath in a hard battle against Sameh Sidhom. The Turkish stylist finished the race in 40 innings, but saw his opponent come back to one carom in the equalizer: 40-39 in 40 innings.
