Logonewstvcommunitystore

Game Icon3-Cushion

José Melo, dark horse best of 258 players in Colombia

01/14/2020

Published by frits bakker

commentlinktwitterfacebook
thumbnail
© © Kozoom
José Melo and Daniel Morales, semi finalists at the Feria de Manizales

MANIZALES - Colombian billiards has discovered a new star. In the Feria de Manizales tournament with a total of 258 players and 151 matches, José Melo (36) was crowned the winner after a victory over Heriberto Aristizabal in a thrilling final match, 3-1 in sets (15-14, 15-14, 14-15, 15-12). All well known Colombians and also American Hugo Patiño, took the start. The final was played to 'best of five', the run-up to best of three. José Melo and Heriberto Aristizábal played an authentic thriller, which was decided on 1 carom in the first three sets. Melo scored 59 times in total, Aristizabal 55 times.

Daniel Morales, favorite for the win, was beaten without any chance in the semi-final by the dark horse José Melo. In the other semi-final, Heriberto Aristizábal was the better of Freddy Prieto in two sets (1,429): 15-9 and 15-13.

José Melo, 36 years of age, has two adult children and previously the only winner of a few local tournaments in Bogotá and Cota, dedicated the victory to his wife and family: ''I work independently and I have to pay to participate here. Last year I was in the last sixteen in Medellin. "

The best match was played by Huberney Cataño: 30 in 8 (3,750). Huberney and Daniel Morales played for their home crowd. Morales was in three finals in recent years, but couldn't win the cup now.

The last day of the tournament brought the 32 remaining players to the arena after a tough competition. In the 1/16 final round, two players were far ahead of the rest: Fredy Prieto, who defeated Carlos Núñez de Panamá (2,308) and Daniel Morales shone against Julio Ayala (1,875). The later champion José Melo defeated Hernán Preciado without any problems. The opposite happened with Heriberto Aristizábal, who needed a strong final shot against Sergio Granados after an exciting fight. Some illustrious names were lost in that round, such as Luis Martínez, defeated by Eleazar Ramírez.

Daniel Morales defeated Pan-American champion Pedro Gonzalez in a strong performance: 15-1, 15-1 in nine innings, averaging 3,333. Fredy Prieto, José Melo and Heriberto Aristizabal only needed two sets to join the semi-finals against José Juan García, Andrés Hernández and Mauricio Grajales.

The winner José Melo with the trophy in Manizales

Two other semi finalists: Fredy Prieto and Heriberto Aristizabal

 

Comments