ANKARA - The 2023 World Cup in Ankara, Turkey, has started despite an initial ban by the Turkish government. The global tournament has finished the first preliminary rounds, after the state of emergency in the country where the two earthquakes, in the night from Sunday to Monday and in the morning, caused hundreds of victims. Turkey's top player Semih Sayginer commented tonight (Monday): "I don't think it's a good idea to play this World Cup after the disaster that hit our country. I am in Istanbul now following the images on the news. My honest opinion is that I don't want to go there to play.'' Dutch top player Jean Paul de Bruijn cancelled his participation this Monday evening. ''I can't find motivation for the World Cup with all the human suffering in Turkey, it's really terrible.''
Following the two severe quakes in southern Turkey, 600 kilometres from Ankara, the Turkish government imposed a ban on events. Turkish billiards president Ersan Ercan was nevertheless granted permission by the Turkish president after consultations. That allowed the World Cup in Ankara to start after all, with a one-hour delay. Meanwhile, the reports that had reached the billiard arena in Ankara were that flights had been cancelled and players who were due to arrive had to postpone their flights. Belgian Roland Forthomme, for instance, could not travel from Istanbul to Ankara until late this evening (23.55). Players who were in action at the billiard hall on Monday, such as Dutch Sylvia Eckel, said: ''I felt the second quake and many left the hall then.'' Still, there was no panic, she explained. ''We first heard that the event would be cancelled, but the organizers eventually got permission to start. I heard that Ankara is one of the safest places in Turkey.''
Semih Sayginer: ''I don't know what other Turkish players think about it, but I don't feel like going. After all, we can't go to play billiards after this disaster and pretend nothing happened. Imagine if one of us wins the tournament and has to celebrate the victory. I mean: what do we have to celebrate?'' Berkay Karakurt, the Turkish player who received a wildcard for the World Cup, was still at home in Bursa last night. And like Semih Sayginer, the young Turk has doubts. ''It feels very bad, because it's so sad. I don't know how to deal with this, I'm so sorry.'' Dick Jaspers, who travels to Turkey on Wednesday, said: ''I feel incredibly sorry for the Turkish people in the disaster area.'' Murat Naci Coklu has the same feeling. ''I agree with Semih, let's see what Mr. Barki and Mr. Ercan decide tomorrow.'' Young Dutchman Joey de Kok and Huub Wilkowski, who has to play on Tuesday, landed on Monday night with Jeffrey Jorissen and Pierre Soumagne.
Early Monday evening, recent reports in Turkey were that the official death toll after the earthquakes is more than 2,500 now and that 5,400 people have been found injured so far. Those numbers will rise further in the coming hours. The shocks were felt hundreds of kilometrers from the epicentre. Turkish President Erdogan on Monday night declared seven days of national mourning for the victims.
Colombian Alexander Salazar, who is back after a suspension, led the first-day ranking with four match points and 1,463 ahead of two Turks, Murat Celik and Sabir Selik. Well known players who survived the first round were further Ye Sung Jeong (4, 1,250), Emrullah Basegmez (4, 1,224), Maxime Panaia (4, 1,090), Lukas Mortensen (4, 0,821), Ali Ibraimov (2, 1,104). For the Netherlands, Herman van Daalen made it to the next round with 4 match points and 0.681.
Dutchmen Ronald van Geyt (1, 0.754), Karina Jetten (0, 0.490) and Sylvia Eckel (0, 0.412) and Belgian Thierry Duson (0, 0.507) were eliminated.