CHEONGJU CITY - Will it be Haeng-Jik Kim (25) for his second World Cup victory in a row on the final day? Can Lütfi Cenet (37) take the first in his career or Murat Naci Coklu (43) his third in three years? And is Dick Jaspers again the world's number one after the Sunday finals in Cheongju City? What a climax is waiting in the 5th World Cup this year on Korean soil, where two Turks are in the final four for the first time in history. The opponents? Two real cup fighters on the global stage, Dick Jaspers and Haeng-Jik Kim.
Two other world stars, Dani Sánchez and Torbjörn Blomdahl, left the scene on the last day. The Spanish world champion, not at his best after a booming start, was knocked out by Lütfi Cenet, Torbjörn Blomdahl had to compete with Sameh Sidhom in a shootout mission, but lost 2-1.
The last top three player, Dick Jaspers, didn't need big fights on his track with wins over Hyung Kon Kim (40-15), Semih Sayginer (40-30) and Xuan Cuong Ma in the quarterfinals (40-17 in 23 ). The declining curve in the Dutchman's averages will surely make him stronger for the final day.
Murat Naci Coklu, Ttmorrow's opponent for Jaspers, was the most impressive in the quarterfinals with a masterly win against Sung-Won Choi (40-13 in 14). Two runs of five and one of thirteen in the first eight innings (32-6) broke the moral of the only Korean world champion ever.
The young Korean, who is the record holder with junior world titles (four times), makes a bid for his second World Cup victory in a row after Porto. Haeng-Jik Kim is the last home crowd favorite. The bump with Jae-Ho Cho in the quarterfinals seemed a walk-over The New York winner missed the start and was out of control: 40-21 in 18.
Lütfi Cenet ran into a hard punch in the first part of his match against Sameh Sidhom. The Egyptian was on top with a quick run of 14, bringing him to 21-12. Cenet returned in the match at 24-24 after 12 innings. The final part entered with equal chances: Cenet finished with four, Sidhom missed the break at 40-37.
The crowded stands in the arena were spoiled in the early sessions with exciting battles for a place in the quarters. Murat Naci Coklu was the undisputed comeback kid when he showed his fighting spirit again, like in his match with Tayfun Tasdemir, to beat Korean Choong-Bok Lee. When he was 29-37 down, Coklu finished with a perfect 11. The trumped Lee, winner of the first LG U tournament last year, made a desperate attempt to equalize, but missed his last point, a bank shot, by a whisker (40-39 in 20).
Sung-Won Choi against Eddy Merckx turned into a fascinating match in the final part. The Belgian was for down at the break (21-8 in 8), but with his great fighting spirit, he lifted up the match. The climax was launched by Choi, who finished at 40-36. Merckx went for four points to the break, scored three times and missed his last by a kiss (40-39 in 25).
And what to think of the battle between Sameh Sidhom and Torbjörn Blomdahl, with the young Egyptian who showed his class with a quick attack. When the finish was in sight (38), Sidhom was punished for some misses. Blomdahl finished, Sidhom answered from the spots (40-40 in 23). And in the shootout, Sidhom was the winner: 2 to 1 in the extension.
Dani Sánchez had one of his rare, minor matches after his first day's dream start. Lütfi Cenet, who survived the shootout against Kang, dominated the match with Sánchez from the start and claimed the win, 40-22 in 20. Haeng-Jik Kim was superior to Jung-Han Han (40-27 in 26 ) and Jae-Ho Cho defeated Anh Vu Duong 40-34 in 30.
Dick Jaspers was threatened by Semih Sayginer until 28-26 (16th inning). The Dutchman showed his best at the end when Sayginer's scoring machine suddenly had stopped (40-30 in 20).
Sung-Won Choi (13 run) was the third Korean in the last eight and Xuan Cuong Ma the only Vietnamese, with a final run of 11 to defeat Tolgahan Kiraz.
The semi-finals on Sunday (Korean time):
15.00 (8.00 West Europe):
Lütfi Cenet-Haeng-Jik Kim
17.00:
Dick Jaspers-Murat Naci Coklu.
Dick Jaspers, in the final four, close to a new world's number one position
Haeng-Jik Kim, the only Korean player left in the field of four
Lütfi Cenet goes for his first World Cup win on the final day
Sameh Sidhom outplayed Blomdahl in the shootout, but then lost to Lütfi Cenet
Dani Sánchez, the world champion ran into Cenet
Torbjörn Blomdahl, strong fight, out in the shootout
Murat Naci Coklu, third World Cup win in three years?
Sung-Won Choi bested Eddy Merckx by one point, but then went out against Coklu