BLOIS – Ten of 24 players in the Blois 3-Cushion Challenge had a start with averages over 2 at half time of the preliminary rounds. Korean Myung Woo Cho, the current world number 1, is the best so far with 6 match points out of 3 rounds and an average 2.553. Sameh Sidhom (2.222), Glenn Hofman (2.352) and Frédéric Caudron are the other leaders in the groups of six. Group A and Group B played three rounds, while Group C and Group D have played two so far. The preliminary rounds continue tomorrow, Friday, at 10.00. Dick Jaspers had the best run with 14, Myung Woo Cho played the best match with 40 in 10.
Four players from each group of six qualify for the knock-outs with 16.
Group A:
Sameh Sidhom and Dick Jaspers are undefeated in Group A with six match points out of three matches. The best winners were Sidhom against Bao 40-33 in 15, Sidhom against Heo 40-26 in 16 and Dick Jaspers against Maxime Panaia 50-17 in 16. Jaspers defeated Bao in the final session 40-35 in 21. Peter Ceulemans started with a win over Heo (40-30 in 29), but lost to Jaspers and Sidhom: 40-21 in 22 and 40-30 in 23. Jaspers and Sidhom are the leaders, with four players competing for two positions. Standings Group A:
Sameh Sidhom 6-2,222-12
Dick Jaspers 6-2,033-14
Phuong Vinh Bao 2-1,862-9
Peter Ceulemans 2-1,229-7
Jung Han Heo 2-1,200-8
Maxime Panaia 0-0,794-8
Group B:
Myung Woo Cho made an impressive start, including wins against Haeng Jik Kim 40-13 in 10 matches and against Jérémy Bury 40-21 in 14 matches. Mikaël Devogelaere surprised everyone in Group B with a 40-20 victory over Tayfun Tasdemir in 13 and is currently in second place after three of five rounds. Mikaël Devogelaere and Haeng Jik Kim share second place following Myung Woo Cho. Tasdemir and Thai have two match points out of three, and Bury lost all three of his matches.
Standings in Group B:
Myung Woo Cho 6-2,553-10
Mikael Devogelaere 4-2,132-12
Haeng Jik Kim 4-2,021-8
Tayfun Tasdemir 2-1,434-11
Hong Chiem Thai 2-1,354-10
Jérémy Bury 0-1,200-7
Group C:
Glenn Hofman and Thanh Luc Tran are both undefeated after two rounds and lead Group C. Hofman had the best start, defeating Martin Horn 40-13 in 13 innings. Thanh Luc Tran won his first match against Quyet Chien Tran, who suffers a minor form for several weeks (40-33 in 28). TL Tran won his second against Garcia, and Hofman defeated Tolgahan Kiraz 40-28 in 21.
The standings in Group C:
Glenn Hofman 4-2,352-10
Thanh Luc Tran 4-1,739-8
Tolgahan Kiraz 2-1,619-7
Martin Horn 2-1,204-6
Jose Juan Garcia 0-1,794-6
Quyet Chien Tran 0-1,152-8
Group D:
Belgians Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx opened the group with a classic match. The final sprint, after a late 12 from Merckx, went to Caudron, who won 40-38 in 15. In the same session, Berkay Karakurt, winner of the last World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, was defeated by Ruben Legazpi 40-30 in 12. Caudron also won his second match against Torbjörn Blomdahl (40-24 in 20), Legazpi reached the maximum score by defeating Marco Zanetti 40-28 in 26.
Group D standings:
Frédéric Caudron 4-2,285-9
Ruben Legazpi 4-2,105-12
Eddy Merckx 2-2,228-12
Marco Zanetti 2-1,416-9
Berkay Karakurt 0-2,062-12
Torbjörn Blomdahl 0-1.357-6.
