LIMA - There are lots of other names in the arena than we are used to in the World Cups. But who doesn't want to come home and say: I beat the maestro, Johnny Caballero. Or Don Go Sang and Jose Torreblanca! The attention of the world's billiards has moved to Peru for this weekend, where Ramón Rodriguez and July Pinedo are the organizers of the Grand Prix Panamericano. With wonderful names in the playing field and all matches broadcast by Kozoom.
July Pinedo, not only the prominent wife of Ramón Rodriguez, also a radio reporter, comes to the air now and then to interview important people and promote the tournament. Ramón is in the arena himself, for the time being with two wins, but after working very hard for the organization not in the best form.
The American Hugo Patiño, last year's winner, had a better start: victory over Jaime Rojas 30 in 21, over Mauricio Grajales 30 in 18. The Colombian Arley Galeano played the best match with 30 in 12 (2.500) and a run of 11. Robinson Morales showed up as one of the contenders for the podium: start with 30 in 16 and 24 innings. Alexander Salazar was booming, 30 in 13 and 30 in 18. Huberney Cataño finished one time in 18 (1.667), but continued with a poor 0.800 in his next match.
The pre-rounds in 22 groups were launched yesterday. Today the tournament in Lima continues to reach a final field of 32.
The group format:
Group 1: Hugo Patiño (USA) - Jaime Rojas (PER) - Roberto Martinez (PER) - Mauricio Grajales (COL)
Group 2: Luis Aveiga (ECU) - Cayo Bardales (PER) - Johnny Caballero (PER) - Juan C Gil (COL)
Group 3: Huberney Cataño (COL) - Juan Linares (PER) - Jorge Diaz (PER) - Arturo Alvarez (PER)
Group 4: José Juan Garcia (COL) - Joao Sias (PER) - Carlos Revilla (PER) - Luis Chenett (PER)
Group 5: Javier Vera (MEX) -Christin Hauser (PER) - Chistopher Ramirez (PER) -Héctor Arbelaez (COL)
Group 6: Ramón Rodriguez (PER) - Javier Serrano (PER) - Fabian Ramirez (PER) - Camilo Gómez (COL)
Group 7: Guido Saco (PER) - Luis F Carrasco (PER) - Edgar Vizcarra (PER) - Julian Vasquez (COL)
Group 8: Robinson Morales (COL) - Oscar Pachas (PER) -Guido Escalante (PER) -Sergio Granados (COL)
Group 9: Cesar Garzón (COL) - Arley Galeano (COL) - Victor Torres (PER) - Alberto Calderon (PER)
Group 10: Fernando Diaz (COL) - Arley Castrillon (COL) - Fredy Alejos (PER) - Miguel Cardenas (PER)
Group 11: Henry Diaz (COL) - Luis Martinez (COL) - Michel Urban (PER) - Angel Conislla (PER)
Group 12: Alexander Salazar (COL) - Marco Sellman (CHI) - Armando Aponte (PER) - Angel Villareal (PER)
Group 13: Julian Towers (COL) - Victor Crovetto (PER) - Wladimir Young (PER) - Henry Soncco (PER)
Group 14: Sergio Canseco (BOL) - Pedro Valdivia (PER) - Marco Blanco (COL) -Jorge Bracamonte (PER)
Group 15: Carlos Villegas (COL) - Jhon Martinez (COL) - Miguel Chinchilla (PER) -Rogelio Aredo (PER)
Group 16: Juan Cartagena (BOL) - Fernando Cruz (COL) - Fernando Da Costa (PER) - Alejandro Piza (COL)
Group 17: Máximo Aguirre (PER) - Pedro Reyes (ECU) - Luis Lopez (PER) - Santiago Carmona (COL)
Group 18: Jose Torreblanca (PER) - Jorge Salazar (PER) - Anderson Capera (COL) - Mao Chang (PER)
Group 19: Jefferson Troy (ECU) - Carlos Campiño (COL) - Don Go Sang (PER) - Marco Duarte (CHI)
Group 20: Enrique Cruzado (PER) - Miguel Ormea (PER) - Oscar Castaño (COL) - Julio Zegarra (PER)
Group 21: Mauricio Aguilar (COL) - Amilcar Tapia (BOL) - Vandenver Reina (COL) - Sixto Jauregui (PER)
Group 22: Julian Morales (PER) - Cristopher Tevez (PER) - Alexis Neri (MEX) - Marcos Huanca (BOL).
Maestro Johnny Caballero in action