Hyeon Woo Kim leads the way as Tangui Duriez and Noah David keep French hopes alive
A long and intense opening day at the 17th World Championship 3-Cushion Juniors in Gradignan has reduced the field from 24 players to 16. After two matches in each of the eight groups, the group winners and runners-up have secured their places in the knockout stage, while eight players have seen their championship come to an end.
At the top of the standings is Hyeon Woo Kim, who produced the strongest performance of the day. The young Korean won both of his matches and finished with 4 match points and a 1.538 general average, scoring 60 points in only 39 innings. He also produced the tournament's best single run of the opening day, a superb 11.
Kim was not the only player to make a strong impression. Amir Ibraimov confirmed his status as one of the leading young talents on the international scene, also winning both matches and finishing on 1.333. Spain's Marcos Morales, another player widely regarded as a genuine contender for the title, was third in the overall ranking at 1.250.
Morales: from reserve to serious contender
Morales' presence in Gradignan has an interesting background. The Spanish player was initially only a reserve, but entered the championship following the withdrawal of reigning champion Ubaldo Sanchez of Mexico.
Sanchez was unable to defend his title after suffering a slight injury in a road accident. Despite the setback, the Mexican still made the trip to Gradignan to support his teammates, a gesture that has not gone unnoticed around the championship.
Morales has certainly made the most of the opportunity. His two victories against Jacob Ide and Ryusei Miyamoto gave him 60 points in 48 innings, for a 1.250 average, and first place in Group A.
Özbas and Ibraimov among the leading names
Turkey's Seymen Özbas also completed a perfect day. He won Group B with 4 points and a 1.176 average, including a 30-24 victory over Noah David in his second match. His best run was 7.
Behind him came Frenchman Noah David, who finished second with 54 points in 63 innings. David took one victory and one loss, enough to secure his place in the last 16.
In Group C, Amir Ibraimov was particularly convincing. The German scored 60 points in 45 innings and finished on 1.333, while also recording runs of 7 and 6. Burkan Yildirim took second place after collecting 2 match points.
Another Korean, Yun Do Song, completed the qualification from Group D behind the outstanding Kim. Song finished with 1 match point and a 0.790 average.
Two Frenchmen into the knockout stage
France will have two representatives in the Round of 16, with both of its players surviving the opening day.
Tangui Duriez, representing Saint-Quentin, won Group E with 4 match points. He finished on 0.869, scoring 60 points in 69 innings. Duriez also produced the day's seventh-best overall qualifying performance and will now face a considerably tougher test in the knockout stage.
Noah David, from Fouchambault, advanced as runner-up in Group B. His qualification means that both French players entered in Gradignan have reached the knockout phase — a particularly positive result for the French delegation.
Duriez's reward is a meeting with David Velandia of Colombia, who produced one of the best averages among the runners-up: 1.292 from 53 points in just 41 innings.
David, meanwhile, faces perhaps the most demanding opponent on paper among the qualified players: Amir Ibraimov, whose 1.333 average was second only to Hyeon Woo Kim's 1.538.
Spain, Colombia and Vietnam also make their mark
The opening day once again underlined the international depth of junior 3-cushion billiards.
Spain will have two players in the knockout stage. Marcos Morales won Group A, while Toni Garcia topped Group H with 4 points and a 1.052 average. Garcia survived a close first match against Mio Svensson before beating David Velandia 30-23 in his second encounter.
Colombia also had an excellent day. Duvan Martinez won Group G with 4 points and a 1.034 average, while David Velandia advanced from Group H with 1.292. Steven Ortiz also qualified after finishing second in Group E.
Vietnam's Trong Van Dinh completed a perfect day in Group F, winning both matches and finishing on 1.052. He will face Turkey's Burkan Yildirim in the Round of 16.
Belgium will be represented by Toon Bollansee, who took second place in Group F behind Dinh. The Belgian youngster accumulated 41 points in 57 innings for a 0.719 average.
The Netherlands also have Luca Philipoom through to the knockout stage, despite finishing second in Group G behind Martinez. Philipoom scored 45 points in 73 innings.
The Round of 16
The first knockout matches of the championship are now set:
Hyeon Woo Kim – Yun Do Song
Seymen Özbas – Toon Bollansee
Toni Garcia – Jacob Ide
Tangui Duriez – David Velandia
Amir Ibraimov – Noah David
Trong Van Dinh – Burkan Yildirim
Duvan Martinez – Steven Ortiz
Marcos Morales – Luca Philipoom
The official qualifying ranking places Kim at the top, followed by Ibraimov, Morales, Özbas, Garcia, Dinh, Martinez and Duriez among the eight group winners. The eight runners-up are led by Velandia, Ortiz and Yildirim.
With the group stage now behind them, there is no room for error. One match will decide who moves into the quarter-finals of the World Junior Championship. And with several players already showing averages above 1.20, the knockout stage promises a fascinating continuation in Gradignan.
Pictures: TON SMILDE
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