LUXOR - The 30-year old Can Capak from Istanbul once belonged to the best young players in Europe. Three years ago, the four-time Turkish youth champion stopped billiards because of the problems within his federation, but now that a new federation has been installed, Capak picked up his career again. He is the Turkish number one today after a victory in a Grand Prix of Antalya in February, where 800 players were at the start and Capak won the final against Lütfi Cenet.
On the first day of the Luxor World Cup, the little Turkish player had to deal with a strong competitor. The Spaniard Ricardo Garcia Alarcon and Capak were in the best group by far in the first qualification round. Both players defeated the Frenchman Yves Tournier and then battled it out in the mutual match.
Can Capak won 30-28 in 22 innings after a run of eight in the penultimate inning, where he forced the decision. The eligible bachelor, who was third with Birol Uymaz at the European championships for teams on small table two years ago, and in previous World Cups defeated Dick Jaspers, Jae Ha Cho and Nikos Polychronopoulos, is facing a hard mission in Luxor. ,,I want to reach the main tournament, of course, but because I haven’t played World Cups for two years, I have to start from the first day and must survive four days’’, he said after the victory over the Spaniard, who is also in the next round as the best of the loser group.
The Turk Mulazin Guner made a strong impression in a group with two Egyptians, whom he defeated in 31 and 24 innings (1.090 average). Mohamed Abdein beat Semir Dalyan in a group with two 30-25 in 20 and lost the second 30-27 at 33. Ilhan Ürküt finished 1.000 exactly.
Four Turks were on the first four places, the Jordanian Jamal Soboh was fifth.
The top twelve of the winners:
1 Can Capak (Turk) 1.200
2 Mulazim Guner (Turk) 1.090
3 Ilhan Ürküt (Turk) 1.000
4 Tuncay Aslan (Turk) 0.937
5 Jamai Soboh (Jor) 0.750
6 Oh Bok Cho (Kor) 0.697
7 Hakan Adiguzel (Turk) 0.674
8 Nicky Defraye (Belg) 0.666
9 Herbert Thuer (Aus) 0.625
10 Samy Yacoub (Eg) 0.566
11 Mohamd Abdin (Eg) 1.075
12 George Fadel (Eg) 0.637
13 Canturk Kenan (Turk) 0.622.
Best second in the groups: Ricardo Garcia Alarcon: 1.260.