BORDEAUX- The first top five player at the world ranking is already out for the world title. Frédéric Caudron, who looked tired and far from his best form, was beaten by the French favourite Jérôme Barbeillon: 40-31 in 25 innings. Torbjörn Blomdahl survived in his last group match thanks to two amazing final runs. The Swede trailed 36-29 against Ramon Rodriguez, but took the match with runs of seven and four: 40-36 in 27.
,,I was sitting on my chair all the time watching the bad positions my opponent left me every time. And all the time I was thinking: he will be punished for all his defensive playing. That happened at the end. I could luckily find my rhythim right on time.''
Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx were not in trouble to reach the knock-out rounds. The Dutchman bested Arnim Kahofer 40-26 in 20 innings, the Belgian was the better of Jae Guen Kim 40-32 in 20.
Jérôme Barbeillon commented after his win against Caudron: ,,I'm so happy, this is the first time in my career that I beat him after only one draw and only losses.'' The Frenchman was thinking about his wife after the match: ,,She expects a baby, one of these days, maybe during the World championship.''
Dick Jaspers was the best on average of the four winners in the first session: 2.105. Eddy Merckx recorded 2.000, Jérôme Barbeillon 1.777, Torbjörn Blomdahl 1.481.
Dick Jaspers, best winner on average in the first round
Torbjörn Blomdahl saved his best shots for his last two innings
Raymond Ceulemans and his wife Angèle, watching the matches from the Kozoom stands with Kurt Ceulemans' wife Ann
Eddy Merckx bested the strong Korean Jae Guen Kim