NEW YORK – Most of the top players have made a flawless start in the Verhoeven Open in New York. Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme, Michael Kang, Luis Aveiga, Javier Teran, Gerhard Kostistansky and Hugo Patino kicked off with a victory.
Pedro Piedrabuena, the Pan American champion and last year’s winner in New York in a hard fight with Torbjörn Blomdahl, was the only one who made a false start. The previous winner was defeated by Manuel Lindao (25-15 in 22) in the group in which also Julian Torres, Michael Kang and Therese Klompenhouwer are fighting for two top positions.
Roland Forthomme was the best starter with a match against Andres Janquito in thirteen innings (25-4). In his second match the Belgian champion bested Jae Cheon Seong 25-18 in 19 innings.
Eddy Merckx needed only 14 innings to beat Korean William Oh (25-10).
Therese Klompenhouwer, who celebrated her win in the ladies tournament one day before, lost her first match in the men's tournament against Michael Kang, owner of the Carom Cafe: 25-12 in 18. The Dutch lady recovered slightly in her second match when she defeated Steven Andersen 25-18 in 34.
Eddy Merckx and Luis Aveiga took the lead in Group B. Otto Hildenbron bested Young Ha Choi in Group D 25-9 in 25 innings. Luis Aveiga beat Carlos Elias in 15 innings.
Javier Teran and Daniel Reyes lead the ranks in Group F.
Group C promises to turn out into an exciting battle, with Roland Forthomme, Gerhard Kostistansky and Mazin Shooni fighting for two positions in the next phase.
Kostistansky defeated Jae Cheon Seong 25-2 (16 innings) and Janquito 25-8 in 19. Mazin Shooni won his first match against Young Gull Lee with the same score (25-2).