He was one of the few high class players who had to qualify for the main tournament today, but he did it without even a moment of trouble. The top players, who will enter the World cup tomorrow, will be warned: Jung Han Heo is one of the most dangerous outsiders in the tournament.
The Korean made a tremendous impression today, first against Hakan Incekara, later against Ly Vinh The, a famous Vietnamese player. And in that last match Jung Han Heo made clear his intentions: he won in four and six innings, with an average of 3,000. In two matches the absolute best man of the day played 2.608.
Javier Palazón, Eddy Leppens, Manuel Gonzalez Castrillo (what's in a name), Jung Han Heo, Murat Naci Coklu and Jean Paul de Bruijn are the first six players from twelve groups who have seeded definitely for the main event. The Spaniard Gonzalez Castrillo was thrilled with his position: he was the winner of his group, because Lütfi Cenet beat Andreas Efler 2-0 in the last match. Therfor the Austrian was eliminated.
Javier Palazón did a decent job with an average of 1.538, Eddy Leppens made a step back with his level after his first match of 2.500. The Belgian had defeated Sameh Sidhom in an all-or-nothing match and needed 18 innings for winning the deciding set. ,,I must say thanks to my supporters,'' he laughed after the game, when he was embraced for minutes by his eldest daughter.
Murat Naci Coklu defeated in a tough battle the player who shone against Sciacca with 2.500 average this morning. Coklu and Kim kept each others in balance during their match, but in the deciding set the Turk had a better end rush: 15-12.
Jean Paul de Bruijn finished the group phase with an excellent match against Kouji Funaki, which he won in a final set of only three innings and runs of five and ten.