VILA NOVA DE GAIA - The player parade to start off the World Championship was impressive: Jorge Fernandes Alipio, both organizer and player called all 48 players to the hall of the Yeatman hotel for a tv report and a Photo shoot.
The view from the balcony was even more impressive: the city of Porto and the river flowing through Vila Nova de Gaia. The 65th World Championship was assigned to this location only 4 weeks before the start.
The mayor of the city with 300.000 inhabitants is a friend of FC Porto’s chairman. This is the reason that play is not in Matosinhos, where World Cups were played in previous years, but in the Yeatman hotel.
This brings both plusses and minusses. Jorge Alipio apologised to the players during the opening, for the cramped spaces they play in until the quarter finals: two small rooms with two tables each.
There is room for 50 spectators at most, on the small stands. ,,I’ve brought quite a few supporters, said Eddy Leppens. ,,And when I play and they are in the audience, it is just about filled up.
Another view came from the Portugese camp, as expressed by Rui Manuel Costa: ,,We are aware of the fact that it is small, but like every organization, we are on a budget. And we use it to make sure this championship takes place''.
,,I think the players could not wish for a better room'', he continued. ,,It is intimate, they can totally focus on their play.''
Heriberto Aristazabal, the number 2 of the Panamerican championships, had no reason to complain. The man from Colombia started his tournament against Manuel Santos Oliveira of Portugal with a victory: 40-36 in 20 innings. Especially his finish with a run of 9 was high class. ,,I love this ambiance, it is perfect for me'', said the winner after his last point.
Dick Jaspers, who has seen it all in his career, commented: ,,I have never ever played a WC in a room as small as this.'' Markus Dömer, making his debut, said with a smile: ,,Luckily, there is always the view.''
Frédéric Caudron, the world’s nr. 1: ,,It is a pity that a World Chapionship takes place in such conditions, that is not good for the sport. There are 48 players, if half of them show up, there is no more room for spectators.''
They will have to adjust for a few days, things will change after Friday. The WC will then continue on a single table, and about 120 spectators can then watch the players.