3-Cushion
HURGHADA - The audience in the billiards room at the World Cup in Hurghada can get ready for the prestigious battle between Semih Sayginer and Jef Philipoom. The first African champion Riad Nady enters the tournament tomorrow (Tuesday) like Pierre Soumagne, the ladies world champion Therese Klompenhouwer, Javier Palazón, Jean Revechon and Tonny Carlsen. The strongest group on Tuesday is Group I with Semih Sayginer, Jef Philipoom and Ronny Brants.
The preselection is done, some star players are coming up at the World Cup in Hurghada. The Belgian Peter De Backer (four match points, 1.500) and the Korean Chi Yeon Cho (four match points, 1.463) colored the third day. And the timetable was a lot better than on the opening day.
The group stages:
Group A: Chi Yeon Cho opened the day with a win against Thomas Wagner 30-16 in 24 and later outplayed the Turk Mehmet Yavas.
Group B: Ronny Brants came through the second day with victories against Claus Mosskov and Claus Maurer.
Group C: Thomas Kerl defeated his two opponents Joel Switala and Hong Suent Lee.
Group D: The Belgian clash between Pascal Claus and Francis Forton Claus was decisive for the group win. Claus won surprisingly, in a not too good match, in which Forton showed he's still not in a good form.
Group E: Alfred Nebuda won with four match points and 0.576.
Group F: Haluk Kara finished ahead of Ahmed Abdallah and Mohamed Abdel-Rahim.
Group G: Turk Hakan Adiguezel was by far the strongest.
Group H: The two Dutch in this group were both out. Wilco van Wijk first won against Karina Jetten (30-23 in 30), but then lost on one carom against Zayed Mohamed.
Group I: Peter De Backer was not in trouble in his first appearance with wins over Jaroslav Korec and Ibrahim Erciyas.
Group J: John Hudak won ahead of the Turk Hakan Cicekci, who had a much better average.
Group K: The Austrian Herbert Szivacz beats his opponents, include Ivo Gazdos.
Group L: Levent Okzi advanced as third of the sixteen players for the third round.
Group M: Markus Dömer was the solid and unthreatened winner, his two opponents played a draw against each other.
Group N: Roman Bachmaier finished ahead of Ali Hares and Gaspar Padin.
Group D: The second Egyptian who is continued was Salah Farouk.
Group P: Hesham Gomaa, the third Egyptian, beat Wiet Caethoven and Murat Buyunktuncer.
The best sixteen with averages:
1 Peter De Backer 1.500
2 Chi Yeon Cho 1.463
3 Levent Okci 1.132
4 Markus Dömer 1.090
5 Herbeert Szivacz 1.034
6 Thomas Kerl 0.909
7 Haluk Kara 0.895
8 Hakan Adiguzel 0.869
9 Ronny Brants 0.869
10 Pascal Claus 0.800
11 Zayed Mohamed 0.800
12 Hesham Gooma 0.714
13 Roman Bachmaier 0.697
14 Jan Hudak 0.666
15 Salah Farouk 0.588
16 Alfred Nebuda 0.576
The most interesting groups for Tuesday:
Group A met Peter De Backer en Javier Palazón
Group B with Birol Uymaz and Chi Yeon Cho
Group E with Tonny Carlsen, Radek Novak and Herbert Szivacz
Group F with Jean Reverchon and Riad Nady
Group I with Semih Sayginer, Jef Philipoom and Ronny Brants.