BLOIS - All four final players for the World Junior under-22 three- cushion championship are still under 20. Seymen Özbas (19, Turkey) has made the best impression so far, but has a tough opponent to Amir Ibraimov (16). These two players already have a little record list in the juniors, Özbas is the current European champion, Ibraimov winner of a European Grand Prix.
The Turk and the German play the first semi-final this Sunday at 11.00. That will be followed by Yeongyun Jo (Korea, 18) and Marcos Morales (Spain, 19) at 13.00 for the second semi-final. The winners of those two matches play the final at 16.00.
Saturday's knock-outs got a few close finishes and included the elimination of reigning world champion Myeong Gyu Oh (20), Denizcan Akkoca, the Turkish two-time European champion, Georgios Tsokantas, Nathan Legendre and Tangui Duriez.
Denizcan Akkoca squandered his chances against his compatriot Seymen Özbas (35-27 in 27), two Koreans also faced each other: Yeongyun Yo was the better of Myeong Gyu Oh 35-15 in 21. The two Frenchmen, strong in the preliminaries, were sent away in the next round. Nathan Legendre by Argentine Valentino Oliveto (35-31 in 40), Tangui Duriez by Marcos Morales by 35-19 in 25.
In the quarter finals, Amir Ibraimov had the better final sprint in his match against Korean Hwa Woo Cho 35-33. Özbas won the match with Akkoca, Jo against Insignares from Colombia (35-26 in 34 and Morales eliminated Oliveto 35-30 in 34.
The semi-finals show one Turk, one German, one Spaniard and one Korean.
Turkish player Seymen Özbas
Marcos Morales for Spain
Korean final player Jo