Alexander Salazar still in his World's form

MEDELLIN - The ultimate day, leading up to the main tournament in the Medellin World Cup, is halfway and Alexander Salazar has almost certainly advanced. The Colombian, who first outplayed Dong Koong Kang at the World championship in Antwerp and then beat Sung-Won Choi and Marco Zanetti in the knock-out rounds, hasn’t lost his form.

For his home crowd, he starred with a monster win in his first appearance: he beat Ronald Otavo 40-4 in fifteen innings and closed the match with a run of eleven. Dave Christiani is his second opponent in the evening matches.

Jean Paul de Bruijn was responsible for another highlight on this playing day.

While a thunder storm threatened the Colombian city, Tayfun Tasdemir escaped in the billiard room to victory against Pedro Gonzalez, Roland Forthomme needed a big fight to repair a poor start and Jean Paul de Bruijn was one of the star players, like Alexander Salazar was earlier in these rounds.

The Dutchman played a fast and furious match: he outclassed the brave, but very poor Turk Bülent Özdemir, first with runs of five and eventually with ten in the last part: 40-8 in 19 innings. Glenn Hoffman didn't start that best as well (5-9 after 9 innings), took a first lead at 18-15 in 15 and reached the finish before Arnim Kahofer could launch his sprint (in 33 innings), playing the Austrian out of the tournament.

Roland Forthomme faced a 31-20 backlog after 27 innings against Raymundo Munoz, couldn’t hide his anger and managed to win 40-38 in 37 innings after a final run of five. Luis Aveiga (40 in 23), Carloman Ortiz (in 22) and Arley Galeano (22) seem to pave their way to the knock-out rounds.