3-Cushion
VIENNA - Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dong Koong Kang and Robinson Morales are the first players who have entered the quarter finals of the World Cup in Vienna. Dave Chrstiani was one of the main stars in the four matches of the first session. The Dutchman, who actualy lost 3-1 against Jaspers, made a run of fifteen from the break-off in the second set. The maximum wasn't made so far in this tournament.
The Dutch battle in the Stadthalle was played on a very high level, with high averages (2.647 and 2.000) and an amazing run of Christiani. Jaspers had to demonstrate his best form to beat his opponent in the next part of the match.
Jaspers concluded: ,,I had to be very good to win, because Dave played a topmatch. My last match against him in a Grand Prix I had lost, so I knew that he can be very strong. I was happy with my endrush, to take the win.''
Christiani: ,,The match ran a little better for Dick than for me, because he usually got some better position with his finishes on the third ball. That's most of the time a matter of form of the day, but also a bit of luck. The run of fifteen I made for the first time in my life. I made thirteen and fourteen before from the break-off in a World Cup in Barendrecht.''
Jaspers won the first set in the Dutch match 15-5 (4), had to watch from his chair how his opponent won the second 15-0, but then recovered again with 15-2 (5) and 15-10 (8). Jaspers averaged 2.647, Christiani 2.000.
Torbjörn Blomdahl defeated Eddy Leppens in a strange match. The Swede had conducted the game in the first two sets (15-7, 15-0 in two sets), Leppens won the third set 15-1 in two innings with a run of thirteen, but then Blomdahl beat his opponent to the bunch and didn't give the Belgium any chance to fight back.
Dong Koong Kang had a kind of walkover against Andreas Efler, the home player who lacked the high class to beat the Korean (3-0). The most exciting was the course of the match between Robinson Morales and Kostas Papakonstaninou. The 32-year-old Colombian champion had an uninspiring start (trailing 2-0), but had a wonderful final shot with three winning sets.