GURI - The Belgian number one in the world ranking, Frédéric Caudron, is already out of the World Cup in Guri after one round. Sung-Won Choi, another former world champion, beat Caudron in a one-sided match (40-20 in 17 innings). The young Korean Myung Woo Cho continued his triumphant march and defeated the Egyptian Sameh Sidhom 40-36 in 20.
Frédéric Caudron, who emphasized that Choi played an excellent match, complained about fever. ,,I haven't felt well for two weeks, went to the doctor in Belgium and he said there's nothing to worry about. But I woke up in a sweat at night, and today I felt sick again. I couldn't fight in the match, I played badly, without any feeling.''
Myung Woo Cho, the Korean was the public hero in the first round, running around in the arena with a big smile after he defeated the Egyptian Sameh Sidhom 40-36 in 20. From the more crowded stands he was treated to a long applause and right after the match embraced intensely by his father. Sidhom was almost ten points down at the break, then started a come-back-race, which brought him to 37-36, but in the last innings the Korean showed his high-class.
Roland Forthomme had a much better start than Murat Naci Coklu, who couldn't reach his level from the day before. The Turk faced a serious gap (22-12) closed it to 32-30 and finished after a seven-run 40-34 in 34.
Dong Koong Kang was a way too strong for Murat Tüzül from the start of the match. The Turk balanced around and under one throughout the entire match and therefore was a no-hope-victim, 40-20 in 23.
Sung-Won Choi outplayed Frédéric Caudron in the first knock-out stage
Myung Woo Cho with his father, cheering the win of his son
Jae Ho Cho promised sportsmanship on behalf of the players
UMB-president Farouk Barki declares the World Cup in Guri to be opened