LINT/ANTWERP – He didn’t show his best form, said Phuong Vinh Bao, the almost 30-year-old, amiable Vietnamese, about the World Cup he finished last week. That’s really a strange conclusion for a billiards start who played a 40-point match in 4 innings with a 25 run in that tournament. The follow-up of the Vietnamese this Tuesday on the first day of the World Championship in Lint, Belgium, made a similarly great impression. Phuong Vinh Bao started the World’s event with a 40-13 score in 12 against Chilean Luis Bahamondes, averaging 3.333, some 5-point scores, and by far the best match of the first day at this World Championship.
The hunt for Myung Woo Cho's world title is on, with the Asians Bao and Cho for sure as major contenders. The stuntman Bao was back at the training table in one of the complex's halls with his buddy Quyet Chien Tran just half an hour after his 40-in-12 match. He flashed his usual cheerful smile, super friendly, and always willing to give a short interview. "I wasn't in my best form at the World Cup; I was playing at 50/70 percent of my normal level," Bao started his comment. "That 40-in-4 match was a blip; I didn't play well elsewhere in the tournament. But now I'm feeling much better. I can feel the table; I had an opponent who wasn't playing well, and I'm happy with my form. That gives me hope for a great World championship; I've trained very hard for that."
Phuong Vinh Bao, who lives in a town near Ho Chi Minh City and trains 5 to 7 hours a day, is one of the stunt players these weeks for the Belgian crowd. Two years ago, he became world champion almost out of nowhere, losing the title last year to Myung Woo Cho. "My podium finish at the World Cup has pushed me up to 12th in the rankings. I hope to improve on that at this World Championship. I've changed my playing style. I used to play with a loose backhand. Because of that, I moved that hand too much when I was nervous, or when I hit a hard shot. I've changed that in my preparation for these tournaments, with a tighter backhand. I feel like I'm playing better now."
The first notable upsets at this World Championship already occurred on the first day, but it also gave a first impression of the top favorits’ form. Myung Woo Cho, in the group where Luis Aveiga arrived late and was not allowed to play, will show up in a double match against Yilmaz Özcan and won the first 40-24 in 16. Dick Jaspers had a smooth start against Ryuuji Umeda, the Japanese world champion from 2007 in Ecuador. Jaspers started like a rocket with a 15-2 in 2 and won 40-24, just like Cho in 16. Eddy Merckx defeated Jean Paul de Bruijn 40-29 in 34 in the final evening matches. The Dutchman's average was modest, but thanks to his win earlier in the day over Cataño, he can still qualify. Quyet Chien Tran won the match against Korean Beom Yeol Lee 40-36 in 22. Tayfun Tasdemir also hovered around the level of Merckx and Tran for a long time, leaving Devogelaere far behind (36-13 in 14). The Frenchman pulled out an 11 in the 15th inning. Tasdemir felt it was time to settle the match and won 40-24 in 15.
Ronny Brants, one of Belgians' two wildcards, captured the hearts of the spectators with a victory over Torbjörn Blomdahl, the player with the most world titles in this field. The Swede, who still seems a bit shaky at the table after his serious and long-term foot injury, had a poor start, with 7 zeros in the first eight innings. Ronny Brants extended his lead to 14-5 in 8, also had two weak periods, but upped his lead again with a run of 8. Blomdahl briefly led 33-31, but was defeated 40-36 in 32. Ronny Brants: "It doesn't seem like it was the real Blomdahl I played against, but I'm incredibly happy with this win."
The Korean match between Haeng Jik Kim and Wan Young Choi was surprisingly won by Choi 40-28 in 23. Bart Ceulemans, who started with ambitions as a child of the organization, only managed a small 'six' at the end of the match against Roland Forthomme, but never gained a lead in the match: 40-24 in 34.
Three-time Pan American champion Pedro Gonzalez was defeated by Portuguese Jose Miguel Soares 40-34 in 32. Nick Polychronopoulos escaped Thomas Andersen's clutches with a final run of 6: 40-36 in 25. Carlos Anguita also had a better finish than TTT Nguyen and won 40-38 in 26.
The first matches on Wednesday start at 10:00 AM with Bury, Heo, Horn, and Peter Ceulemans in the arena. The final evening matches are at 8:00 PM, after which the 32 players will be selected for the knockouts.
Myung Woo Cho, an excellent start
Dick Jaspers beat former world champion Ryuuji Umeda from Japan
Vietnamese Bao after the match with Chilean Bahamondes
Ronny Brants on his way to the win over Blomdahl
Eddy Merckx in his match with Jean Paul de Bruijn