3-Cushion
SEOUL - The Korean Dong Koong Kang, who defeated his strong countryman Jae Ho Cho and Dick Jaspers are the best starters at the 80.000 euro invitational tournament for the LGU + Cup in Seoul. Five Europeans, one Vietnamese and ten Koreans are battling in these three days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) for a 40.000 euro main prize.
Dani Sánchez was the only European who lost in the first session to the Korean Jae Guen Kim (35-16 in 16). Dick Jaspers was far behind in his match against Hyung Kon Kim (18-3), but came back with an excellent run of thirteen (18-16) and then finished it off with ten in the final part of the match (35-28 in 13).
Dong Koong Kang did even better against Jae Ho Cho, who scored in the pursuit the highest run in the first session (14), but lost 35-28 in 12.
The world champion Sung-Won Choi bested his countryman Sang Pil Um (35-21 in 24), Torbjörn Blomdahl had a long run-up and a strong finish with nine against Nguyen Quoc Nguyen (35-25 in 29) and Frédéric Caudron came smoothly from the blocks with a victory vs Choong Bok Lee (35-20 in 19).
Semih Sayginer and Jung Han Heo played a draw: 35-35 in 20.
Dong Koong Kang, Dick Jaspers, Jae Guen Kim and Frédéric Caudron are the first leaders in the four groups, of which only the numbers advance to the semi-finals.
Today, Tuesday, two more sessions are played in the groups.
The results and rankings after the first round:
GROUP A:
Blomdahl-Nguyen 35-25 (29)
Jae Guen Kim-Sánchez 35-16 (16)
Ranking after 1st round:
1 Jae Guen Kim 2-2.187-6
2 Torbjörn Blomdahl 2-1.206-9
3 Dani Sánchez 0-1.000-5
4 Quoc Nguyen Nguyen 0-0.862-6
GROUP B:
Caudron-Lee 35-20 (19)
Choi-Um 35-21 (24)
Ranking:
1 Frédéric Caudron 2-1.842-7
2 Sung-Won Choi 2-1.458-7
3 Choong Bok Lee 0-1.052-5
4 Um 0-0.875-5
GROUP C:
Jaspers-Hyung Kon Kim 35-28 (13)
Sayginer-Heo 35-35 (20)
Ranking:
1 Dick Jaspers 2-2.692-13
2 Semih Sayginer 1-1.750-6
3 Jung Han Heo 1-1.750-6
4 Hyung Kon Kim 0-2.154-10
GROUP D:
Kang-Cho 35-28 (12)
Hwang-Seo 35-30 (28)
Ranking:
1 Dong Koong Kang 2-2.917-7
2 Hyung Bum Hwang 2-1.250-5
3 Jae Ho Cho 0-2.333-14
4 Hyun Min Seo 0-1.071-7
Match schedule from the second round (Korean time):
Tuesday 18.30:
Blomdahl-Jae Guen Kim
Sánchez-Nguyen]
20.00:
Caudron-Um
Choi-Lee
Wednesday:
12.30:
Jaspers-Sayginer
Heo-Hyung Kon Kim
14.00:
Cho-Seo
Hwang-Kang
15.30:
Blomdah-Sánchez
Jae Guen Kim-Nguyen
17.00:
Caudron-Choi
Lee-Um
18.30:
Jaspers-Heo
Sayginer-Hyung Kon Kim
20.00:
Hwang-Cho
Kang-Seo
Thursday:
Semi-finals and finals.
Sung-Won Choi started with a win in his group
Dick Jaspers defeated Hyung Kon Kim, Quoc Nguyen Nguyen (background) lost to Torbjörn Blomdahl