HO CHI MINH – The recovery from his surgery did not keep Torbjörn Blomdahl, the record holder with 45 World Cups, from aiming for a top ranking again in the Ho Chi Minh World Cup. The Swede underwent surgery on a groin hernia three weeks and two days ago. He was unable to practice for all those days, lying mostly on the bench with painkillers, and got fit just in time to travel to Ho Chi Minh for the World Cup. ’’I didn't expect anything after this run-up,'' he confessed. ’’I turned 60, so recovery from such an operation takes a bit longer. I started with the intention that it would be nice if I could win a match, but getting off with 26 was quite special. I've never done it before in all my career.'' That’s why it is almost a miracle that Torbjörn is still in the World Cup now, playing for the top podium spots tomorrow (Sunday) with Jun Tae Kim (his opponent in the semi-finals), Martin Horn and Myung Woo Cho. They all are players in great form. Torbjörn Blomdahl won last year’s second last World Cup in Veghel, Myung Woo Cho the last one in Sharm El Sheikh.
Torbjörn himself is still most surprised by his excellent form. Blomdahl: ’’My main worry, when I came here to Vietnam, was that someone could carry my suitcase, as I am still not allowed to lift heavy things. And it was only in these last days that I was allowed to stop taking painkillers. I mainly thought: I hope I can make a few balls and maybe win a match.'' The reality was so different: Blomdahl started his first match against Dion Nelin, got off to a great start and made an improbable run of 26.
Just one day later, Blomdahl still looks back on that top run with wonder. ’’Many people ask me about that 27th point, which I missed, but don't talk about that 26 from before. That was much more of a miracle, because I am 60 and have never done it before. I didn't feel any nerves at the end of the run either. When Caudron made that 28, the 29th was a missed, pretty easy three cushion shot with Forthomme the same. For me, that number 27 was a very difficult shot. Before that I had made at most two, three not-so-easy balls.''
In the late Vietnamese evening, the Swede watched with interest who his opponents will be on the final day at the World Cup. Dick Jaspers was of course an expected finalist, but lost to Martin Horn on his way to the podium. The German dominated the entire match, Jaspers fought a long slump in vain and could only watch admiringly as Horn won the match with a fantastic, artsy final carom: 50-41 in 31/30.
The other match in the evening session was won by Myung Woo Cho after a dogged battle with Quyet Chien Tran. And so the little, always laughing Korean is back on the final stage tomorrow with chances of winning. Cho quickly put Tran, the last Vietnamese, behind with a run of 11 (12-3), also quickly ran out to 22-7 and 30-7, but had a relapse with five zeros in a row. Tran, however, could not take full advantage and remained at considerable distance. The score was 40-34, 47-41 and finally 50-43 in 30 innings.
That resulted in the semi-finals, this Sunday:
8.30 Blomdahl-Kim
11.00: Horn-Cho
14.30: Final.
Jun Tae Kim and Torbjörn Blomdahl were the leading players in the first round of the quarter-finals. Jun Tae Kim impressed with his start against Sameh Sidhom, who was gagged by Kim's stunning start. The break with 6 was the prelude to much more: 13 and 8 in the 3rd and 4th innings, giving the scoreboard generous figures: 28-4 in 4 innings. The Korean could not keep up that pace, but did ran out to 40 (5,000 average) after 8 innings and still left Sidhom disconsolately far behind (40-7). Six zeros in the last 9 innings kept Jun Tae Kim from a spectacular game: it was 50-25 in 18 innings.
The Swede Blomdahl continued his punishing expedition, excelling again with short attacks (8 and 12), putting Jung Han Heo at long distance: 29-14 in 9 innings. Heo came back one more time with 8, but could no longer threaten. Blomdahl went out with 2, 2, 6 and 2 for a final score of 50-32 in 19 innings.
Myung Woo Cho, semi-final against Martin Horn
Martin Horn outplayed Dick Jaspers and plays in semi-finals against Myung Woo Cho
Jun Tae Kim, second Korean in the finals
Best sixteen
Three matches with the character of a real topmatch marked the sessions with the best 16. Quyet Chien Tran, the favorite of the Vietnamese crowd, defeated Korean Myeong Jong Cha 50-48 in 30 innings in a dizzying final stage. Myung Woo Cho, the young Korean, escaped against world champion Tayfun Tasdemir 50-48 in 24, and Jun Tae Kim countered on a terrific final sprint by Nikos Polychronopoulos 50-49 in 27.
The best finish in the early session on Saturday came from Nikos Polychronopoulos and Jun Tae Kim. It showed once again what pressure and nerves can do to a player of this class. The Greek, not starting very well with 2 in 5, got into the game in the phase around the 16th innings with runs of 8 and 6 (32-32), still fell behind again at 46-37, but then seemed to go to the end in a stunning flash of his quick scoring drive. The run of 12 was great, only 'the 13' for the win did not come from his cue. He missed on 1 carom. Kim came up with 3 also on 49, Polychronopoulos missed another makeable match ball and saw Kim finish on 50-49 in 27.
Myung Woo Cho and Tayfun Tasdemir played an unlikely match, in which Tasdemir was by far the best starter thanks to an early 12 (17-7), but Cho also came back in the match with 12 for the first time (23-21). The final part came with advantage for Tasdemir (48-46). Myung Woo Cho made two for 48-48 under hellish tension and finally two for 50-48. Tasdemir missed his last three attempts.
Jung Han Heo was the best man in the first session with eight among the top 16. The Korean launched his attack with runs of 9 and 17 in the first 10 innings, ran away from Tolgahan Kiraz comfortably and only took four more innings to score his last two points.
Quyet Chien Tran balanced on the brink as the big favorite of the home crowd against Korean Myeong Jong Cha, who led 22-10 after eight innings. Tran was back in the match with two times 7, but still 37-30 behind. The Korean got to match point for the first time (49-45), but missed his last and winning carom four times. Tran seized his last chance with a final run of four: 50-49 in 30.
Torbjörn Blomdahl ended Jose Maria Mas' wonderful mission. The friendly Spaniard played a great tournament, going to high scores in the preliminary rounds and coming out of the first round in the main tournament with Tayfun Tasdemir. The match against Torbjörn Blomdahl, for the time being the stuntman of this World Cup, marked Ma's last trick, as the Spaniard could not withstand the class of the Swede and fell far behind from the start: 50-19 in 27.
Dick Jaspers played one of his rare matches against Marco Zanetti in which he did not really feel any threat. The Dutchman already had a much better start (15-9, 20-11) and finally seized power with a run of 11 (42-27) to finally finish 50-32 in 21. Martin Horn had just as little trouble with Robinson Morales, who had become one of the sensational players in this World Cup.
Matches with the last 16:
Horn-Morales 50-24 (21/20)
Jaspers-Zanetti 50-32 (21/20)
Tran-Cha 50-49 (30/29)
Cho-Tasdemir 50-48 (24/23)
Blomdahl-Mas 50-19 (27)
Heo-Kiraz 50-37 (21/20)
JT Kim-Polychronopoulos 50-49 (27)
Sidhom-Do Nguyen 50-21 (30/29).