3-Cushion
ISTANBUL - The spectacular showdown, at the end of the first round in the World Cup, took place after the Korean stunt flyer was over the hill and far away. Jae Guen Kim, a player from around the 25th place in the world, started his match against Japanese Takeshima impressive (20-4 in 6, run of 14!). And eventually surpassed his opponent 40-28 in 19 innings.
Frédéric Caudron needed even more time for his first victory against Murat Celik (40-28 in 24). Jean Paul de Bruijn was cheering up after a spectacular final in his match against Eddy Leppens (40-39 in 21) and two other Koreans, Sung -Won Choi and Jung Han Heo, needed a penalty race to come to the winner. Choi was the better in the rush: 2-1.
The fireworks, however, in this first round came from Jae Guen Kim, an extremely friendly Korean, who is not among the top five of his country, but well on his way to conquer a higher position. His peaks are already feared: in last year's World Cup in Peloponnese (Greece) he tormented his countryman Jae Ho Cho, starring with a 40-9 match in 9 innings (4.444).
He looked that strong again against poor Japanese O Takeshima, but couldn't hold on the rhythm after his lightning start to 20-4 in six. Thirteen innings later he finished 40-28, after Takeshima's 8 in the equalizer.
But Frédéric Caudron, his opponent in the quarters, will be warned: this Jae Guen Kim is not player to be underestimated anymore.
Two matches in this round ended in a thriller: Eddy Leppens led the entire game against Jean Paul de Bruijn by a small margin (17-14, 23-20, 31-25, 37-34), got the opportunities to finish, but barely missed the crucial ball: an easy, open goal shot at first sight, played with maximum english.
Jean Paul de Bruijn was exceptionally strong in this final stage, fought back to 38-37 and then to 39-37. He got his match point after two great shots and scored the winning point when he bravely gave his all (40-39).
Frédéric Caudron had already finished the job against Murat Celik. The Turkish player, who was in the tournament since Tuesday, had showed up with a masterpiece for his home crowd, but had to bow devoutly for the world's number one. Caudron started with a nine from the break and then built up the lead quickly to 23-9 (9). The finish line was at 40-28 in 24 innings.
The two Koreans Sung-Won Choi and Jung Han Heo battled in a thrilling match to the finish. Heo got the better chances in the final innings, but he failed in difficult positions to the end. Sung-Won Choi, renowned for his fighting spirit, did the almost impossible: he scored three times in the equalizer and won the penalty shootout, after Heo had made only one point from the break-off.