GURI - The Korean players, like Sung-Won Choi, Dong Koong Kang and Myung Woo Cho are hot in the World Cup, no doubt about that. But almost more than that, the crowd in the Gymnasium is cheering for an absolute favorite player. Dani Sánchez, last year's winner in Guri, was welcomed by a standing ovation for his first performance, although Javier Palazón, one of the two other Spanish players, was the star on the first day. The former junior world champion defeated the ever-warring Marco Zanetti in a brilliant match. The Spanish/Italian battle was dominated by Palazón in the first part when he opened sharply (with 12) and took a 17-3 lead after four innings. But Zanetti, the fighter, never surrenders. He came back to 32-28 in the tenth inning, was ready to take charge, but ran into a fantastic Palazón, who won 40-31 in 12, with averages of 3,333 and 2.583.
Jérémy Bury demonstrated just like on his first day here why he should be considered a dangerous outside candidate for the podium. The top twelve will be in sight for the Frenchman ifn he is the best four in Guri. He doesn't want tot hink about that at this stage: ,,I don't look at the ranking, because it only puts more pressure on me'', he says. ,,The most important thing is that I keep playing well.'' There wasn't even one inch of doubt about that in his match against the poor Vietnamese Xuan Cuong Ma, who was tortured by Bury from the start including a nine-run to 27-4 in the eighth and to finish unthreatened at 40-11 in 15.
There is nothing wrong with Eddy Merckx and his fighting spirit in Gury. The Belgian commented after his exciting win over Hyung Kon Kim (40-38 in 27) that he's not really lucky in his game the last few days. ,,In the Dutch league, Sunday I played an unfortunate match, here it was the same. The balls don't roll like I'd wish'', he said in his typical Merckx language. ,,I am quite happy that, despite all that, l was rewarded for my fight.''
Huberney Cataño's adventure in the main tournament was over after one performance. Lütfi Cenet could run away from the South American after 19-19 and 28-28 and then he pulled the trigger at 40-34 in 30.
Jérémy Bury, playing on a level that makes him a candidate for the podium
Marco Zanetti, showing his passion until the end of the fight
The full stands watching the matches in the Guri arena