BORDEAUX - It was almost ten P.M on the opening day of the WC 3-cushion. Some 120 faithful fans in the stands followed the match between Dion Nelin and Adnan Yüksel, amongst them Semih Sayginer and Tayfun Tasdemir. It was the fourth session of the day, and still the players could not convert their skills into high averages.
Adnan Yüksel, not just any name on the tour, started his match with no less than eight open innings, on the cloth that still was slippery as ice. It will be Holiday on Ice today'', said Eddy Leppens, who had been the best winner of the final round (2.222 average), and he said it before the first point had been made.
It turned opening day into one of missed chances. A failed start for the World champion (Sung-Won Choi), a day of hard grinding for most of the South-Americans, with the exception of Huberney Catano, Erick Tellez and especially Luis Aveiga. The Ecuadorian player made Semih realize that only a surprise win over Eddy Merckx can keep him in his First WC in many years.
Nikos Polychronopoulos' win over one of the best South-Americans (Andrès Lizarazou) was the most entertaining match of the evening. The Greek, who had podium finishes on WC's in 2004 and 2006, secured his victory halfway through the match when he ran a 12. His opponent was beaten fair and square (40-17, but showed some class when he added 11 points in the equalizing inning: 40-28.
Adnan Yüksel could forget about his miserable start when he at least won his match against Nelin, allbeit in 37 innings. Jérémy Bury came from behind to win against Christopher Tevez in 34 innings.
Eddy Leppens was the best winner of the day against Cayo Bardales from Peru (40-16 in 18) and Pedro Piedrabuena was defeated by Erick Tellez from Costa Rica (40-33), who had the very vocal support of a single fan in the stands, in the late hours.
A comment from the best player of the day (Leppens): ,,I knew that it would be difficult, but I played a technical game from the start, had the courage to play the right speeds, and soon I had confidence in the outcome of the match.''
Maybe the Belgian found the only formula to stay upright, on the ice rink in the Palais des Congres.