HO CHI MINH CITY - The majestic kick-off of HaengJik Kim (17 in the first inning) and Lütfi Cenet's victory over Semih Saygıner were the first highlights at the start of the last rounds of the pre-tournament in the Ho Chi Minh World Cup. With 24 caroms in two innings, HaengJik seemed on his way to a miracle match, but eventually, after a setback halfway, the final score against Chi Yeon Cho was 40-34 in 18. The run-up to the main draw started with twelve groups of three, the winners and three best numbers two qualify for the main tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Twelve players from the top of the world rankings are automatically seeded together with five wildcard holders: a total field of 32 players comes to the draw tonight to compete for the World Cup win in Vietnam.
HaengJik Kim immediately took the spotlights and is one of the main candidates for one of those places in the draw. The Korean, in his early years as a junior four times world champion, has slipped in the ranking after his impressive comeback, is the number 19 now, but wants to return in the top 12 as soon as possible. Besides Chi Yeon Cho, a strong countryman, who fought back after 24-2 in two innings to 36-34 in 16 innings, the Vietnames Quang Hao Truong is crossing paths with Haengjik.
,,I felt during the warming-up that the table was very difficult'', Haengjik explained after his match. ,,I started the match using my feeling and was a bit lucky. But after the first innings, my feeling was gone for a moment, luckily I could finish it off.''
Lütfi Cenet set the tone from the start in the clash with Semih Saygıner, two Turks who were together on the stage at the World championship for national teams in Viersen. The match was primarily a tactical battle, not too high levelled (20-16 in 18) and with Cenet as the best at the finish line. With 40-35 on the score board, Sayginer missed the equalizer by a kiss.
Jérémy Bury, finalist in the last World Cup in Luxor, couldn't live up to the high expectations in his first match and must fear for his chances after his loss against Wan Yeon Choi. The French number one arrived in a great form down to Ho Chi Minh, after he won a French tournament last weekend. But in his first performance in Vietnam, Bury lost 40-22 in 27 innings. He will face Adnan Yüksel in his second.
Former world champion Sung-Won Choi keeps on working hard for his return on top, but doesn't show the level to impress in the World Cups as before. He started in Ho Chi Minh with a loss against his compatriot Hyung Kon Kim 40-28 in 25. The win in his second against Hakan Incekara still opens the door to continue.
Two stars from the previous rounds came strongly out of the blocks today. Chi Minh Truong defeated Hyun-Suk Kim 40-38 in 27 innings, Tae-Jun Oh, with his dream match in six innings on Wednesday, was too strong for Hyung Bum Hwang, who was top 12 twelve player not so long ago: 40-21 in 23. Hwang also lost his second match vs Vietnamese Minh Cam Ma and is therefor out of the game.
The Korean junior player Ju Shin Jung is a serious candidate for group win after his victory over Choong-Bok Lee (40-36 in 29), but is facing the public hero Quoc Nguyen Nguyen in his second match.
Lütfi Cenet started his performance with a win over Semih Sayginer, 40-35
Tae-Jun Oh continued his winning streak