NEW YORK - The major contenders for final victory in the Carom Cafe International in New York go into the final rounds of play today, Saturday, with a ticket for the knockouts with 16 players in the pocket. In the four groups of eight players, of whom the best four qualify, there is only tension around the the crucial positions (3, 4 and 5). Three players still have the maximum scores of 12 points out of six games: Sameh Sidhom (1.750, run 16), Pedro Piedrabuena (1.438, run 9) and Vicke Pineda (0.950, 6).
The summary of the four groups:
Group A:
Sameh Sidhom and Muammer Rahmet are unbeaten and have a place in the next round in Group A. Both leaders scored 12 out of six, Sidhom with 1.750 average, Muammer Rahmet with 1.280. Luis Aveiga, with 8 match points, also already secured his place, Hugo Pena, with 4 match points, can only be threatened by Young Ha Choi. Three players are eliminated with 2 match points out of six games: Seung Kwon Hong (0.804), Michael Kang (0.8010 and Nikolaus Kogelbauer (0.790).
Group B:
Ricky Carranco will long cherish his match against Tayfun Tasdemir, the reigning world champion. The American beat his renowned opponent 35-21 in 18 innings (1.944) on Friday, a career highlight for Carranco. Tayfun had an unusual start with seven zeros in nine innings (only 4 and 6), fell down 18-10 and could not threaten Carranco in the final stages. Three players are on 10 match points in this Group B: Tayfun Tasdemir, Huberney Cataño and Ricky Carranco (1.831, 1.471 and 1.273). The fourth player who has already qualified is Tae Kyu Lee, the other four players (K. Lee, Q. Vo, Delatorre and Guldali) are eliminated.
Group C:
Vicke Pineda is the unexpected frontrunner in Group C ahead of players like Roland Forthomme, Raymon Groot and Hugo Patiño. The American, playing his last match against Forthomme, is unbeaten with 12 match points and 0.950. Four players are still fighting for three more places, but Roland Forthomme and Raymon Groot are already certain with 10 and eight match points (1.153, 0.984). Hugo Patiño and Egyptian Kyrollos Meawad are in the race for the remaining place in the knockouts.
Group D:
For three players, the final round is a formality: Pedro Piedrabuena (12 points, 1.438), Alexander Salazar (10, 1.177) and Carlos Mario Villegas (8, 1.131) have secured a place among the top 16. Piedrabuena is the proud frontrunner with the maximum score. For fourth place, it is between four players of whom Daniel Galindo has the best chance. The final round shows the match between Piedrabuena and Salazar.
The final matches in the groups on Saturday:
Group A:
Sidhom-Rahmet, Aveiga-Hong, Pena-Kang and Kogelbauer-Choi
Group B:
Tasdemir-Cataño, Vo-Carranco, TK Lee-Delatorre, K. Lee-Guldali
Group C:
Patiño-Karam, Forthomme-Pineda, Groot-Amado, Meawad-Gonzales
Group D:
Piedrabuena-Salazar, Villegas-Gomez, Gulbay-Pelaez, Vitzthum-Galindo.
Four contenders for the final rounds: Carlos Mario Villegas, Raymon Groot, Hugo Patiño and Pedro Piedrabuena