BORDEAUX - The Marseillaise to open the tournament, the impressive minute of silence fort he victims of the Paris terror attacks, speeches by the officials and a photoshoot wit hall the players: the world championship 3-cushion in the Palais des Congrès in Bordeaux is kicked off this Tuesday afternoon. In the first round of play, on brand new Gabriels tables: Turkish magician Semih Sayginer and reigning world champion Sung-Won Choi.
Instantly, the tournament had its first upset. Sung-Won Choi lost his first match against his countryman Jae Guen, 40-35 in 32 innings. Kim first took the lead with a run of six from 35-32, and three innings later he got over the line. Tatsuo Arai is the third player in this group.
Semih Sayginer, in the tournament thanks to a wildcard, and winner of a Turkish GP last week, also had a disappointing start on the unpredictable new cloth. Seasoned Ecuadorian Luis Aveiga, an artist at finger-billiards, beat 40-34 in 32 innings when the Turk froze in the closing stage.
The world of 3-cushion watches from today until Saturday as a new champion will rise in the beautiful arena of the Palais des Congrès in Bordeaux. Who will succeed Sung-Won Choi? The upcoming week will tell.
Famed physicist Albert Einstein, a billiard afficionado, is quoted in the tournament booklet: ,,Billiards is an art which requires superior anticipation, it's a noble sport demanding physical stamina, a logical mind and the touch of a concert pianist.''
The history of this global tournament goes back in time with legendary names such as Raymond Ceulemans, Nobuaki Kobayashi, René Vingerhoedt, Alfred Lagache (the only Frenchman to win it), first winner Edmond Soussa from Egypt, and in the latest decades Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers and Dani Sánchez. There is a chronological gallery of champions at the entrance of the Palais des Congres.
The format of this event follows the tradition. The UMB has invited 48 players from four confederations, and divided them into sixteen groups of three. The group winners will go the the main draw, with a knock-out format leading to the final.
Xavier Carrer, CEO of Kozoom, tournament director and one of the opening ceremony speakers, faces a baptism of fire with his organization team after a relatively short preparation period. His team was awarded the world championship organization for two years (2015, 2016). The event will then move to La Paz, Bolivia (2017) and Luxor, Egypt, in 2018.
The current world champion Sung-Won Choi defends his title knowing his position is under pressure. He needs to make it to the quarter finals at least, to retain his top-12 spot. Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dani Sánchez, Dick Jaspers, Tayfun Tasdemir and Eddy Merckx are the tournament favorites, based on the world ranking. Jaspers has shown top form for a few weeks now, having won in Lausanne, made it tot the semi's in the LG U-plus Cup, and an earlier victory this year in the Luxor World Cup.
The Koreans have seven players in the tournament, with the unpredictable Dong Koong Kang as one of the dark horses. The outnumber all other countries, with Belgium following (4), Netherlands (3), France, Turkey, Egypt, Sweden and Vietnam bringing two players.
Three of the four confederational champions are in Bordeaux: Torbjörn Blomdahl (Europe), Huberney Catano (Amerika) and Riad Nady (Afrika). The national champions are Torbjörn Blomdahl (Sweden), Dani Sánchez (Spain), Tayfun Tasdemir (Turkey), Marco Zanetti (Italy), Jung Han Heo (South-Korea), Eddy Leppens (Belgium), Christian Rudolph (Germany), Ryuji Umeda (Japan), Jean van Erp (Netherlands), Nikos Polychronopoulos (Greece), Jérémy Bury (France), Sameh Sidhom (Egypt), Arnim Kahofer (Austria) en Jan Allés (Czeck Rep).
The spotlights in the arena are now on, and the best players of the world will showcase the fascinating game of 3-cushion. All information about the WC in Bordeaux is available on www.kozoom.com/bordeaux
The flights:
Poule A:
Sung-Won Choi (Korea)
Jae Guen Kim (Korea)
Tatsuo Arai (Japan)
Poule B:
Torbjörn Blomdahl (Sweden)
Ihab El Messery (Egypt)
Jean Reverchon (France)
Poule C:
Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
Semih Saygıner (Turkey)
Luis Aveiga (Ecuador)
Poule D:
Dick Jaspers (Netherlands)
Ryuui Umeda (Japan)
Hyung Kon Kim (Korea)
Poule E:
Tayfun Tasdemir (Turkey)
Arnim Kahofer (Austria)
Cetin Behzat (Switserland)
Poule F:
Dani Sánchez (Spain)
Cristian Rudolph (Germany)
Jan Álles (Czeck Rep.)
Poule G:
Marco Zanetti (Italy)
Xuan Cuong Ma (Vietnam)
Jean van Erp (Netherlands)
Poule H:
Frédéric Caudron (Belgium)
Huberney Cataño (Colombia)
Christakis Christoforou (Cyprus)
Poule I:
Jae Ho Cho (Korea)
Nick Polychronopoulos (Greece)
Andrés Lizarazu (Colombia)
Poule J:
Hyung Bum Hwang (Korea)
Rubén Legazpi (Spain)
Juan Pablo Sisterna (Argentinia)
Poule K:
Jung Han Heo (Korea)
Anh Vu Duong (Vietnam)
Michael Nilsson (Sweden)
Poule L:
Roland Forthomme (Belgium)
Riad Nady (Egypt)
Miguel Torres (USA)
Poule M:
Sameh Sidhom (Egypt)
Eddy Leppens (Belgium)
Cayo Bardales (Peru)
Poule N:
Jean Paul de Bruijn (Netherlands)
Adnan Yüksel (Turkey)
Dion Nelin (Denmark)
Poule O:
Dong Koong Kang (Korea)
Jérémy Bury (France)
Christopher Tevez (Peru)
Poule P:
Quyet Chien Tran (Vietnam)
Pedro Piedrabuena (USA)
Erick Téllez (Costa Rica).
The first matches on Tuesday 1 December:
14.00:
Sung-Won Choi- Jae Guen Kim
Ihab El Messery-Jean Reverchon
Luis Aveiga-Semih Sayginer
Hyung Kon Kim-Ryuuji Umeda
16.30:
Arnim Kahover-Cetin Behzat
Christian Rudolph-Jan Áles
Xuan Cuong Ma-Jean van Erp
Huberney Catano-Christakis Christoforou
19.00:
Nikos Polychronopoulos-Andrés Lizarazo
Ruben Legazpi-Juan Pablo Sisterna
Anh Vu Duong-Michael Nilsson
Riad Nady-Miguel Torres
21.30:
Eddy Leppens-Cayo Bardales
Adnan Yüksel-Dion Nelin
Jérémy Bury-Christopher Tevez
Pedro Piedrabuena-Erick Tellez.
