LA BAULE - The filled stands were treated to billiards of academic level. Two of the greatest experts in the 3-cushion of the last three decades were pitted against one another: Marco Zanetti and Dick Jaspers, as they were approaching the climax of their quarterfinal. The Italian ran away from his opponent mid-match, turning 12-12 into 23-12, but Jaspers showed his true colors and came back to a 31-25 lead. As they reached 34-33, it became clear that the match would end in a coin toss. From 34-38, Zanetti pulled himself up by his bootstraps and received the applause for his final run of six. Jaspers was supported equally by the crowd, as he calmly equalized with two (40-40 in 16 innings).
The shootout came into play, as a decider for one of the best matches we've seen in recent World Cups. Marco Zanetti played first: ,,I did not hit the break as well as I could have, the resulting position was difficult but at least I could play on. The fourth point had to be shot using the bridge, and I got a little kiss but it made and enabled me to also make the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th point. My memory is not that strong, but I don't think I've ever made this many in a shootout.''
Dick Jaspers, in spite of the cheers on his behalf, faced an impossible task. He started his shootout, made 1, 2, 3, 4 and then missed. A standing ovation from the crowd was addressed at both players for their world class match. Marco Zanetti was a grand winner, but Jaspers too was drenched in sympathy by the French spectators.
In the same round of play, Dani Sanchez once again showed his tremendous class, and Torbjörn Blomdahl (by beating Nikos Polychronopoulos) became the new nr. 1 on the world ranking. ,,I lost that position for a while, because in the months following my win in Bordeaux, I squandered a big lead.''
Dani Sánchez and Tayfun Tasdemir went toe to toe until it was 20-19. The Spaniard then took control with a brilliant run of sixteen, and won the match. It was in the twelfth inning, he added three in the next and then one: 40-19 in 14 (2.857).
Murat Naci Coklu ended the fairytale week of Jérôme Barbeillon, who gave his fans a lot to cheer about. His victory over Vietnamese Ma would be his last in La Baule. The Frenchman trailed 4-8 after two innings against Coklu, and could never keep up. He had to concede at 40-30 in 17 innings.
It was head and shoulders his best performance in a World Cup, ever, he smilingly said afterwards. He had made the most of his French wildcard, now that his work and family make it impossible for him to play the circuit on a regular basis.
Murat Naci Coklu is back, after a few months without major success. ,,I lost the rhythm for a while, after my win in the Istanbul Wotrld Cup'', he admitted. ,,In Guri things started to get better, but then I fell ill. Here in La Baule I was not unlucky in the way I got through the qualifications, but started to play well from then on.''
Torbjörn Blomdahl had a word with opponent Polychronopoulos after the match, and said: ,,I know from your previous match that I was going to have a chance. You did not play the way you do when you are at your "flying level".'' The Greek admitted it: ,,This was not my best tournament, but I am still in the thick of it.'' The match went Blomdahl's way in the second half, and he won by a margin: 40-31 in 23.
The semi's on Sunday:
12.00:
Zanetti-Coklu
Blomdahl-Sánchez.
Final at 17.00.
Serious faces before the shoot-out between Zanetti and Jaspers
Marco Zanetti making his fourth point in the shoot-out
Jérôme Barbeillon thanks his audience after his loss against Coklu
Murat Naci Coklu: back on track