SEOUL - Were they the true lovers of the game who filled the stands at the LG U + Cup fill in the early sessions? Maybe they were just there for shopping in the commercial center of the Korean capital Seoul and watched the billiard matches? They were all quite spoiled, in any case, the people who where there to enjoy the world top of three cushion. The prestigious tournament, with a main prize of almost 60.000 euros, witnessed a fabulous start. Torbjörn Blomdahl, still the reigning world champion for one week at least, was punished painfully in his first appearance and will need a great comeback to survive in the title race. Frédéric Caudron started with a draw against one of the top ten Koreans and Dani Sánchez was one of the victims on the opening day. Three Koreans were the first tormentors for the top five players in the world.
The first matches showed already wonderful averages and high runs: Sung-Won Choi was outstanding in his first match in the Korean flight, beating Jae Ho Cho in 14 innings. Choong Bok Lee took the starring role against Blomdahl in 15 innings, Quyet Chien Tran who beat Piedrabuena (40-11 in 16), Frédéric Caudron and Jae Guen Kim with a 40-40 in 17 and HaengJik Kim killing Sánchez in 19. Choong Bok Lee shone with a 15-run against Blomdahl, the Swede with 13 in the same match and Quyet Chien Tran, the tiny Vietnamese who just dropped from the top twelve in the ranking started with 12 from the break against Piedrabuena. For the Europeans watchers on Kozoom, it was only six o'clock in the morning that the show was launched. The Koreans were already gathering with many in the stands in the courtyard of the shopping center.
The mecca of three cushion, as South Korea may be called for sure, has invited six of the best players in the world and its own elite players for a wonderful tournament these days with a huge prize money. Korean Dong Koong Kang won the first tournament last year. Sixteen players will battle it out in four groups to decide over group wins. The four winners meet in the knockout. There were no European wins on the first day, only Frédéric Caudron played a draw.
The first day:
Group A:
Frédéric Caudron seemed on his way to victory, but couldn't make the gap with Jae Guen Kim, who equalized with six from the break: 40-40 in 17. Jung Han Heo was surprisingly beaten by Hyun-Kon Kim 40-38.
Group B:
The sensation came from Choong-Bok Lee, the Korean who tormented Torbjörn Blomdahl for his poor start. Choong-Bok, a tv-star in his country, was leading 22-7 at the break, Blomdahl woke up with a thirteen, but then was beaten with a decisive 15 from Lee. HaengJik Kim ran out with seven against Sánchez when there was a 26-24 on the score board. The Asian champion then finished it of to 40-35 in 19.
Group C:
Quyet Chien Tran had a brilliant start with 12 from the break and played a one-way-match against Pedro Piedrabuena, who was far behind at then end: 40-11 in 16. Sameh Sidhom dominated the match against the Korean young guy Myung Woo Cho and won unthreatened 40-20 in 28.
Group D:
Sung-Won Choi, the former world champion, had the best start of all sixteen players. He bested his countryman Jae Ho Cho 40-26 in 14 after he attacked with 10 en 9 in the 9th and 10th inning. Dong Koong Kang was close to a draw against Jin-Pyo Hong, but failed for his last caram in a modest match: 40-39 in 35.
The Korean Choong-Bok Lee who overpowered Blomdahl in the opening match
Sung-Won Choi, best match of the day
Frédéric Caudron and Jae Guen Kim played a draw in their first group match
HaengJik Kim was the better of Dani Sánchez in the final sprint
Quyet Chien Tran, a blistering start with 12
Pedro Piedrabuena looks down and out, far behind in his match against Tran