Caudron shows a brilliant form: 4.375 against Choi

SEOUL - Two European three cushion stars, Torbjörn Blomdahl and Frédéric Caudron, have qualified as the first two players for the final round at the LGU + Masters in Seoul. The other two group winners come from the final selection with Dick Jaspers and Dong Koong Kang as major contenders.

Frédéric Caudron had an awesome match start against Sung-Won Choi (21-3 in four), attacked like a rocket and outplayed the world champion 35-8 in eight innings (4.375). That was more than enough to get rid of his first day slip against Sang Pil Um on the first tournament day.

The Belgian, who made runs of 10, 7, 6 and 8 in his ultra-short match, flaunted as the group winner with four match points and 2.042 average, ahead of Sung-Won Choi.

Torbjörn Blomdahl finished on top in Group A and could allow himself a draw in his last match against Dani Sánchez (35-35 in 19). The Swede cleared the job routinely and advanced with five points match and 1.645. Jae Guen Kim was second with four points, average 1.684.

Dong Koong Kang, partly recovered after his sudden hospitalization on the evening of the first day, returned to the start for his second match. He bested his fellow countryman Hyung Bum Hwang (35-31 in 20). Kang is the main contender for the group in which Hwang and Jae Ho Cho are on spot two and three.

Dick Jaspers defeated Semih Sayginer in a fight with majestic final rush of the Turk. The Dutchman finished it off at 35-19 in 17 innings, in the equalizer Sayginer scored 15 points and he missed his last by an unfortunate kiss. The run of fifteen is the highest so far, the loss on one carom means that Sayginer is out. Jaspers and Heo battle it out in the final session for a place in the main draw.

Rankings after three sessions:

Group A:
1 Torbjörn Blomdahl 5-1.645-11
2 Jae Guen Kim 4-1.684-8
3 Dani Sánchez 3-1.409-10
4 Quoc Nguyen Nguyen 0-1.125-10

Group B:
1 Frédéric Caudron 4-2.042-10
2 Sung-Won Choi 3-1.500-9
3 Choong Bok Lee 3-1.285-6

4 Sang Pil Um 3-1.213-8.

Torbjörn Blomdahl qualified after a draw against Dani Sánchez