LA BAULE - Will Torbjörn Blomdahl, the reigning world champion, also be the new number one in the world tonight? The Swede must beat at least Nikos Polychronopoulos, then he passes Frédéric Caudron, but also Dick Jaspers, if he wins the World Cup in La Baule, is certainly another main candidate for the new number one position.
The main mission of course is to win the World Cup in La Baule. Both Blomdahl and Jaspers don't think about the ranking for now. Jaspers said after his victory Pedro Piedrabuena: ,,I feel good, I play good and I like to win, then we'll see what wil happen.'' Blomdahl:. ,,I haven't calculated towards my ranking, that's for later.''
The main conclusion after the first sessions today: there are eight Europeans in the last eight of the tournament. The Koreans and Vietnames, started with so many great players, are down and out.
The best player of the first day, the Vietnamese Xuan Cuong Ma, was stopped now by Jérôme Barbeillon, the best and only Frenchman left in the tournament. Cheered by many spectators, Barbeillon took the win after a good fight 40-38 in 27 innings. Dick Jaspers was the best winner against Pedro Piedrabuena (40-38 in 17) after the American missed a pretty easy shot in his second last inning. Torbjörn Blomdahl was never in trouble against Choong-Bok Lee (40-16 in 18) and Murat Naci Coklu is growing step by step in the tournament, which he showed against Javier Teran: 40-26 in 19.
Two matches lasted just over twenty innings: Marco Zanetti defeated Jae Ho Cho 40-32 in 22, Dani Sánchez won the match against the young star Myung Woo Cho, 40-33 in 23 ,, I have mixed feeling'', said the Spaniard, ,,because I like this boy, he's a friend, a wonderful talent. I'm happy that I won, but I feel sad for him.''
Nikos Polychronopoulos continues his stunning form in the World Cups with a win over the Korean Jung Han Heo: 40-38 in 25. Ronald Forthomme opened strongly against Tayfun Tasddemir, with nine from the break, but was not good enough at the end of the match: 40 -35 in 25 innings.
The matches at 16.00:
Marco Zanetti-Dick Jaspers
Murat Naci Coklu-Jérôme Barbeillon
18.00:
Dani Sánchez-Tayfun Tasdemir
Torbjörn Blomdahl-Nikos Polychronopoulos
Dick Jaspers was the better of Piedrabuena, now waiting for a battle with Marco Zanetti
Jéroôme Barbeillon shows his joy to the home crowd in La Baule
Nikos Polychronopoulos continues his winning streak in the World Cups
Dani Sánchez: mixed feelings after his win over Myung Woo Cho
Myung Woo Cho, the talented young boy: disappointed after a miss
Murat Naci Coklu, step by step to a higher level in the World Cup