LAUSANNE - The leading group of world class players in three cushion has moved rapidly from the World Cup in Seoul to the wonderful Swiss city of Lausanne. The last World Cup winner, Eddy Merckx, starts the show at the Lausanne Billard Masters in the Casino Montbénon, tomorrow at 12.15 with a match against Swiss champion Michel Boulaz. Torbjörn Blomdahl plays against Dani Sánchez also in the starting round.
Diane Wild, organizer of the anual invitational tournament, guarantees a high-level tournament with the leading players from the world ranking. Dick Jaspers, the current world champion, Marco Zanetti who has been named Mr. Lausanne, two Koreans, Jung-Han Heo and Dong-Koong Kang and also Murat Naci Coklu, Jérémy Bury and Martin Horn are among the stars. The young Frencham in the field is Gwendal Maréchal.
The winner takes 7,500 Swiss francs, the number two 5,000. Additional bonuses include runs over 12, 15 and 20 points, the best overall average and games in less than 15 and 20 inches (40 points).
At the end of the group phase, the quarter finals will be played on Saturday night.
The group layout:
Group A: Eddy Merckx (BE) - Torbjörn Blomdahl (SW) - Dani Sánchez (SP) - Michel Boulaz (SW)
Group B: Dick Jaspers (NL) - Murat Naci Coklu (TR) - Jérémy Bury (FR) - Dong Koong Kang (KR)
Group C: Marco Zanetti (IT) - Jung Han Heo (KR) - Martin Horn (DUI) - Gwendal Maréchal (FR)
Friday schedule:
12:15 Blomdahl-Sanchez and Merckx-Boulaz
2:15 Coklu-Bury and Jaspers-Kang
4:00 Presentation of the players
5:00 Heo-Horn and Zanetti-Mareshal
7:15 Merckx-Sanchez and Blomdahl-Boulaz
9:15 Jaspers-Bury and Coklu-Kang
Saturday schedule:
10:00 am Zanetti-Horn and Heo-Marshal
12:15: Merckx-Blomdahl and Sanchez-Boulaz
2:30 Jaspers-Coklu and Bury-Kang
4:45 Zanetti-Heo and Horn-Marshal
7:00 Quarter-final 1v8 and 4v5
9:15 Quarterfinal 2v7 and 3v6
Sunday schedule:
10:00am Semi-Final
12:00 Semi-Final
2:30 pm: FINAL