Torbjörn Blomdahl keeps up with the top favorits

SAINT-BREVIN-LES-PINS - The opening of the World championship one cushion, played in Saint-Brevin, France, has showed that Torbjörn Blomdahl can be a dangerous competitor for the top favorites in the title run. The Swede crushed the young Japanese Yusuke Mori in his opening match (150-26 in 14 innings) and could keep up with the other leaders after the first round.

Jean Paul de Bruijn was the best starter with a victory in ten innings, Frédéric Caudron needed only one inning more for the win. Disappointing starters on the opening day were Swiss Xavier Gretillat, Frenchman Alain Remond and Austrian Arnim Kahofer, however Remond recovered in his second match with a good win over Baca in 9 innings and Kahofer with a win against Garriga in 14 innings.

The reigning champion Wolfgang Zenkner took his first match points against Alain Remond, but not in a high-class match 150-122 in 23. In the same flight, Frédéric Caudron won his first against Czech Miroslav Baca after a powerful start (58-1 in 2): final score 150-47 in 11.

Jean Paul de Bruijn, the other main favorite, could not shine with high runs (38), but showed solid and superior position playing. The Dutchman overpowered Johann Petit and won 150-52 in 10, therefore he was the best winner in the opening round.

Frédéric Caudron surpassed his main rival (JP de Bruijn) in the second round with an even shorter match and in a glorious performance. The Belgian world champion three cushion defeated the reigning world champion one cushion, Wolfgang Zenkner, in a dazzling demonstration 150-35 in five innings, 30.00 average with a run of 73 in the second last inning.

Peter De Backer defeated Spaniard Jordi Garriga 150-103 in 16 and Bernard Villiers was the best finisher in the match against Arnim Kahofer (150-123 in 15). The Frenchman bested also Peter De Backer in the late evening session (150-133 in 15).

Torbjörn Blomdahl was a way too strong for Japanese youngster Yusuke Mori. The master showed his progression in this discipline and was never in danger: 150-26 14. The Swiss Xavier Gretillat, a veteran in one cushion, was the great loser in this round. The loss against Vietnamese Phi Hung Tran, in the same group as Blomdahl, hit very hard: 150-77 in 24 with a poor 3.208 average.