TRABZON - He jumped into the air, with a big laugh on his face, ran to Dick Jaspers, whom he just had defeated with his last carom and overtook the Dutchman in his enthusiasm almost with a tight hug. Lütfi Cenet for a moment was the hero of the audience, which applauded minutes for the man who defeated in the first afternoon matches of the World Cup the world's number one: 3-2.
The joy on the face of the Turkish champion was enormous. He made some crazy jumps and felt his Turkish fans around the neck, freed from the tension in the last innings of the match. And where Jaspers was fighting for his last chances, his opponent showed himself a cool killer. First he fought back after been 2-0 behind in sets. And then he grabbed the match with three winning sets, a great revenge for his los last year in the World Cup in Suwon, where Jaspers defeated him 3-0.
It was the morning anyway in which the Turkish heroes came to the arena of the Novotel. That sense also lived from the first caroms among the spectators. Three players from the home land in action in the early session, for two of them the mission was superhuman.
Tayfun Tasdemir had to cross swords with Torbjörn Blomdahl and Lutfi Cenet played against Dick Jaspers. Two champions with a huge list of honor, playing in the hollow of the lion.
Only Murat Naci Coklu's chances were some higher. The little man had to face the Austrian Andreas Efler, but he still needed a tough fight to survive. Coklu lost the first set 15-4, won the second 15-1, then lost again 15-11, won 15-4 and reached the finish of the match with 15-12 in five innings.
The Belgian collision on the other table also turned towards a match full of tension. Eddy Merckx took an advantage with 2-1 in sets (15-12, 7-15 and 15-1) and then showed his fame with his endrush after a missed setbal of Jef Philipoom.
And then, finally, there were two more Turks, who got the audience on the edge of the chair and occasionally got a thunderous applause over themselves. The support was not enough for Tasdemir. He offered a respectable opposition to Blomdahl, won the first set 15-10 in eight innings, but then had to give priority to the Swedish maestro: 15-9 (7), 15-3 (5) and 15-11 (9).
Two Turks out of the game, one more at the table, that was the situation at the end of the session, when Dick Jaspers and Lütfi Cenet were still fighting for every point. It seemed, in the first sets, to become a walkover for Jaspers, who led 2-0 and started so strong with solid positioning and flawless caroms.
But after the two sets (15-10 in 8 and 15-6 in 10, the Turkish scoring machine found his rhythm. Cenet fought back, to 15-5, 15-11 and then declined into the final with equal opportunities.
The two players were in balance up to 6-6, 9-9, then came the breakaway of Cenet with a small run of four. Jaspers got two more chances at a score of 13-9, but after his misses he saw his Turkish opponent finish with two. The sensation was there.
The Turk tonight plays in the quarterfinals against Torbjörn Blomdahl. Murat Naci Coklu will meet Eddy Merckx.