3-Cushion
GURI - Young Korean Haeng Jik Kim (21), who suffered a brain stroke (cerebral emorrhage) on 10 May this year, makes his comeback at the international stage in the World Cup of Guri (Korea) in about two weeks. He is one of many Koreans in the preliminary rounds of the tournament.
The recovery of the for times junior world champion has been so successful, that he's already in training for some months. The young Kim, who is considered as the greatest talent in three cushion, was immediately taken to a hospital in Seoul after his stroke.
His friend and coach during the World Cups, WooJin Park, says: ,,I had a chat with him a couple of days ago. He will play in Guri in the 1st round. He's increasing his practicing time nowadays, but his physical strength is not fully recovered yet, so he has to rest a while after every few innings.''
With his quick return at the stage, the young guy fulfills the promise that he made during his stay in the hospital. ,,I want to play billiards again as soon as possible’’, he said.
Haeng Jik didn't get persmission from the UMB to participate at the junior World championship this year. WooJin: ,,We were expecting that this year would be his last championship, due to the same reason as Glenn Hofman could start a couple of years ago. We are a bit disappointed that Haeng Jik is not allowed to play.''
The young man is on the World Cup stage in Guri one of the 48 Korean players who are temporarily in the schedule for the opening day on Monday September 2. That list will probably be supplemented with 16 other players from the organizing country.
Three Koreans, Sung-Won Choi, Kyung-Roul Kim and Jae Ho Cho, are in the top twelve of the world and are automatically seeded for the main tournament. Two Koreans will receive a wildcard from the organization.
The draw for the final qualifying has been done this week, resulting in some interesting group stages. The Dutchman Glenn Hoffman, bronze medalist at the European championship and the World Games, meets his fellow countryman and teammate Jean Paul de Bruijn. Jung Han Heo, one of Korean’s top players, fights against Sameh Sidhom for a place in the main tournament.
Dong Koong Kang is classified in the group with the Turkish champion Ahmet Alp, Nikos Polychronopoulos is playing against Ruben Legazpi, the Japanese Kouji Funaki against Christian Rudolph, O Takeshima faces Anh Vu Duong, the Japanese former world champion Ryuuji Umeda plays against Savas Bulut, Eddy Leppens against Quyet Chien Tran and Xuan Cuong Ma vs Javier Palazón.
Known foreign players in the tournament, who play the qualifications in an earlier stage, are Michael Nilsson, Luis Aveiga, Javier Teran, Dave Christiani, Therese Klompenhouwer, Minh Cam Ma, Birol Uymaz, Barry van Beers, Jae Guen Kim, Jose Maria Mas and Allan Jensen.
That last qualifying round is on Thursday, September 5th, that night, the draw for the main tournament with 32 players will be done. The semifinals and final are on Sunday September 8.
The World Cup in Korea is the first of the new season, the second this year. The cycle was started in Antalya, Turkey. This season will be completed with the World Cup in Greece (Peloponnese) and the traditional closing in Egypt. Not yet known is whether it will be held in Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh.
All World Cup matches will be broadcasted live on Kozoom (for Premium pass holders).