ANKARA - Dutch world number one Dick Jaspers' chances at the World Three-Tie Championship are hanging by a thin thread. The second of two Dutchmen, Jean Paul de Bruijn, has made the preliminary rounds on the global stage a lottery. Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn have a minimal chance in the first qualifying round in the three-player group to advance to the knockout stage in pairs. Korean Ji Hun Ahn, an unexpected tormentor, has nestled himself at the head of that group with the best score: two match points from one match. Jean Paul de Bruijn is outplayed by two games and a worse moyenne, Dick Jaspers needs a win over Ahn in his second and final game of the group stage.
That could be the sensation of the World Cup start in Pool B: Dick Jaspers must play much better than in his first appearance in each and beat Ji Hun Ahn. Apart from winning, Jaspers must pass either the Korean or his compatriot De Bruijn in average. That will not be an easy task for Jaspers, who started the World Cup disappointingly against De Bruijn with a loss: 40-28 in 32 innings.
Statistics indicate that Jaspers definitely needs to win from Ahn by 40 in at least 28 innings to pass Jean Paul de Bruijn meg equal match points in moyenne. Jaspers needs to stay far ahead of the Korean in caroms to pass him in final moyenne. The decisive match to go through between Jaspers and Ahn is Thursday afternoon at 2pm, 1pm West European time.
Jean Paul de Bruijn had the odds in his own hands in his match on Wednesday night against Ji Hun Ahn, but had a poor match against the Korean after winning against Jaspers. That was a streak: Jaspers was already trailing 28-10 after 10 nil in the first 13 innings and did not come close to winning for a moment, despite a post-hit 7: 40-28 in 29.
The standings in Group B with only the Jaspers-Ahn match still to be played:
- Ji Hun Ahn 1-2-1,379-7
- Jean Paul de Bruijn 2-2-1,114-7
- Dick Jaspers 1-0.875-6.
Three other top favourites, Tayfun Tasdemir, Torbjörn Blomdahl and Marco Zanetti, are almost certain of a place among the top 32 players after their first game. The reigning world champion Tasdemir won his first match against Mexican Javier Vera, who although he was good for series of 10 and 13 against Robinson Morales (winning 40-16 in 22) and against Tasdemir, but against the Turkish champion a losing 40-32 in 24. It is obvious that Tasdemir and Vera (1.666 and 1.565) will pass from Group A, as Robinson Morales has an average of 0.727 from one loss.
Marco Zanetti had his kick-off against Hugo Patino in Pool C, repelling the American 40-27 in 25 innings. That puts the Italian on top of the rankings with 2 points from 1 match and 1.600 average. Zanetti still plays against Mohamd Abdin, who is virtually no longer a threat.
Torbjörn Blomdahl beat a former world champion, Japanese Ryuuji Umeda, by a generous score (40-20 in 26). Umeda's win over Abousaleh (40-26 in 41) is just about enough to join Blomdahl in the top 32 in the knockouts.
In the final evening session of the first day, Myung Woo Cho had the better final sprint in his battle with Huberney Cataño with a final series of 4 at 36-33: 40-33 in 27. The Colombian was overtaken after starting with 8 and 6 in the first two innings. Huberney won his opening game from Cetin 40-30 in 35.
Gwendal Maréchal and Eddy Merckx were tied in their group until 10-10 in 7. The Frenchman attacked with 8, but saw Merckx return to the game with 6 and 4. The Belgian finished with 6 and 3, Maréchal was only 3 caroms short in his after turn of 5. He did win his first game against Rui Costa, so Merckx and Maréchal have the best papers.
In the four pools where only one game was played, the winners are Gerhard Kostistanski (against Kokkoris 40-31 in 41), Omer Karakurt (against Tolgahan Kiraz 40-17 in 25), Pedro Piedrabuena (against Carlos Villegas 40-30 in 30) and Phuong Vinh Bao (against Hajek 40-32 in 30). For these four pools, Haeng Jik Kim, Quyet Chien Tran, Jérémy Bury and Nikos Polychronopoulos have not yet been in action.
Eddy Merckx, better final sprint than Gwendal Maréchal
Torbjörn Blomdahl won his match against former world champion Umeda from Japan