ANKARA - The wonderful climax for Turkish billiards, with four players in the final stage, did not make it to the finals of the World Cup in Ankara. On the way to big success, first Tayfun Tasdemir was felled by the whirlwind Martin Horn and Tolgahan Kiraz was overpowered by the reigning world champion, Vietnamese Phuong Vinh Bao. The Turkish fans were suddenly on the hands of two brothers Omer and Berkay Karakurt, but that illusion was quickly disrupted in the quarter-finals, when Omer (32) was eliminated by Bao and Berkay (29) by Sameh Sidhom.
The Turkish title race at home stranded within sight of the finish line. On the Saturday of the World Cup final in Ankara, Phuong Vinh Bao will face Sameh Sidhom and Martin Horn plays the other semi final against Jung Han Heo. The world champion Bao wants a shot at his first World Cup victory based on his already days high level. The Vietnamese is the World Cup hero high averages and high runs. The run-up to the final day was another demonstration of his high class with 50-35 in 20 against Omer Karakurt (2,500). Sameh Sidhom is his opponent in the semifinals, as the Egyptian is also showing stable form. With his victory, Sidhom ended the glory days of the two Karakurts. The only African on the world stage defeated Berkay 50-29 in 29 (1,724).
Martin Horn and Marco Zanetti played a true classic against each other with constantly changing odds. Horn had a better start, but with 4 and 6, Zanetti went to 21-11. The German woke up with a run of 9, a few innings later with 7 and finally won 50-42 in 26. Two Asians dueled for the final spot among the top four. Jung Han Heo led, but ran into a 9 from Tran. The Vietnamese could only score a 6 in his last part, Heo finished with 6 and 7 in his last four: 50-39 in 24.
The trend of the last World Cups continues in Ankara, as of the world's top 16 players in the Players Ranking, only Martin Horn (7), Phuong Vinh Bao (8), Sameh Sidhom (11) and Jung Han Heo (15) will be in the semifinals on Saturday.
Quyet Chien Tran, the most purified of the last period in World Cups with wins in Porto and Bogota, now is no further than the best 8, becomes the new No. 1 in the world.
In age, Phuong Vinh Bao is the youngest with 28 on the podium that will form tomorrow in Ankara, Sameh Sidhom is 37, Heo 47 and Horn 53.
Jung Han Heo, the second Asian player in the finals
Martin Horn after his battle with Marco Zanetti a well deserved final player
Sameh Sidhom, finally chasing for World Cup victory?
Round with best 16
The outcome is too good to be true. Two Turkish brothers compete at two tables in the first session with the best 16. The oldest, Omer Karakurt (32), keeps the strong Korean Haeng Jik Kim in control, the youngest, Berkay (29), puts up a hard fight with Nikos Polychronopoulos. The Turkish audience is intensely alive until the final seconds and can finally cheer for the two brothers.
Omer Karakurt shines in the match with runs of 6, 6 and 10 against Haeng Jik Kim, keeps pace until halfway, sees the Korean run away, but finishes with 7, 2 and 3 for a final score 50-49 in 32 innings. At the other table, it takes a little longer, but finally Berkay Karakurt also has a slightly better final shot than Nikos Polychronopoulos. The youngest Karakurt finishes with 2 for a score 50-49 in 34.
Two Turks are already among the top eight in the matches later on the day. Phuong Vinh Bao, the world champion, impresses most in that first session with his victory over Tolgahan Kiraz, the first of four Turks to disappear from the stage. Bao's performance remains incorrigibly strong and effective, beating Kiraz 50-29 in 25, including with a high run of 12, his trademark in this World Cup so far. Sameh Sidhom makes it to the top eight with a win over Hong Chiem Thai, the revelation of the last World Cups, but not yet good enough for a podium finish. Sidhom wins the match 50-39 in 32 innings.
The second part of the afternoon sessions will be the end for Dick Jaspers and Peter Ceulemans, the last two players from the low lands. Dick Jaspers gets no chance to make a fight with Jung Han Heo, the Korean who gets off to a lightning fast start with 4, 8 and 5 (17-4) and lays the foundation for a comfortable victory. Jaspers scores a 4, 5 and 5, but clearly lacks the form and confidence of the feared top player he is on the world stage.
Peter Ceulemans starts off with 5 against Marco Zanetti, but has already shot his powder for the first 13 innings. The Italian also starts moderately (16-12) and then gets going with a 9 run (33-21). He then comes close to the finish with another 11, reaching the end one inning later at 50-32 in 34.
Martin Horn finds his best tournament form in his match against Tayfun Tasdemir. The German goes off like a rocket at 7-0 in 2 innings, sees Tasdemir still pass at 12-8 in 5, but explodes from the 13th inning with 12, 11 and 9 in 3 innings for a 46-19 lead. Then eventually (36 in 5 innings) it comes to 50-25 in 17.
Quyet Chien Tran and Thanh Luc Tran fight out a Vietnamese clash won by the world's top three player 50-39 in 29/28.
Phuong Vinh Bao, impressive match against Kiraz
Jung Han Heo, a way too strong for Dick Jaspers
Berkay Karakurt, a close call to beat Nikols Polychronopoulos
Omer Karakurt, Berkay's older brother, same score against Haeng Jik Kim, 50-49
Marco Zanetti, great finish to beat Peter Ceulemans
Quyet Chien Tran was the better of his countryman Thanh Luc Tran
Martin Horn outplayed home player Tayfun Tasdemir
Sameh Sidhom to the quarters with a win over Vietrnamese Thai