ANKARA - The one hero of Turkish billiards fans has already shown a miracle at the World championship in Ankara these days. Tayfun Tasdemir, the world champion for at least two more days, fought back from 22-1 trailing against Torbjörn Blomdahl and outplayed the Swedish world star eventually 50-39. What a huge contrast with the end of the third day at this World championship when Pedro Piedrabuena and Jérémy Bury switched off the lights of the sports arena after a soporific marathon. After that match, finally it was possible to make the balance of the first knock-outs. Who will be the biggest threats to Tayfun Tasdemir, the champion, this Saturday and Sunday on the world stage of three-cushion? They pitched up one by one in the first knock-out rounds, in which much was getting clear about form, mentality and ambitions of the major contenders.
When overseeing it all, the Korean bump between Haeng Jik Kim and Jung Han Heo was the best of all sides. Haeng Jik (run 10) won it against Jung Han (run 12) after a blazing final shot 50-46 in 21/22: averages 2.272 and 2.190. Marco Zanetti, the maestro, who still has the look of a young god as the older star player with his grey hairs, demonstrated he is on his way to another strong World championship again with a 50-21 victory over Huberney Cataño. Dick Jaspers, the ever-feared matador when it comes to major titles, did the same with 50 in 22, and there were certainly quite a few contenders and outsiders already raising their fingers for a potential leading role at this global championship.
The World Championship started the knock-outs on Friday afternoon with a Houdini act by the world champion. Tayfun Tasdemir, playing for his own crowd in Ankara, ran into a hammer blow from Torbjörn Blomdahl, a sensational start from the Swede with runs of 12 and 10 in the first two innings and a 22-1 lead over Tasdemir. The Turk remained stoic and started his pursuit with wonderful shots, solid scores and eventually won the match 50-39 in 23 innings, shen Blomdahl stopped scoring after his brilliant start and did not have the strength to hit back when Tasdemir passed him.
As a result, the World championship thus lost one major champion on the first knock-out day. Torbjörn Blomdahl left the stage with an unprecedented demonstration of his high class. Another player, like Blomdahl out of the top of the rankings, was Sameh Sidhom, who came up against the unpredictable Roland Forthomme. The Belgian is his country's second player following Eddy Merckx. Forthomme won by a generous score: 50-30 in 33/32.
Where should we look for the other major title favorites?
The Dutch/Belgian clash in the second round of 16, this Saturday morning, came up with the victories of Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx. Jaspers defeated Colombian Henry Diaz by 23 in 22 innings, Merckx overpowered Japanese former world champion Ryuuji Umeda by 50-34 in 29. Jaspers and Merckx will play the Derby of the Low Lands in the knockouts with the best 16 tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m. West European time. Berkay Karakurt is the second Turk left after winning over Martin Horn (50-46 in 39/38), his brother Omer was eliminated by the not-to-be-underestimated Mexican JavierVera (50-36 in 25/24). Pedro Piedrabuena beat Jérémy Bury within sight of the finish line 50-48 in 36 and Gwendal Maréchal thus became the only Frenchman by a victory over Gerhard Kostistansky: 50-40 in 34/33. Hugo Patino took victory after a very long match with Michael Nilsson 50-44 in 54/53 innings. The only Colombian who survived was Luis Martinez in his match against Korean Jun Tae Kim: 50-41 in 32.
The newly celebrated Nikos Polychronopoulos, winner of a major Korean tournament with big cash prizes, is no longer competing. The Greek was trounced by a dangerous Korean, Myeong Jong Cha. The Koreans, by the way, are with the biggest number of participants in the best 16: Myeong Jong Cha, Myung Woo Cho and Haeng Jik Kim.
The round featuring the best sixteen (Turkish time)
11.00:
Jaspers-Merckx
Karakurt-Tasdemir
Cha-Zanetti
Vera-Tran
13.30:
Patino-Martinez
Cho-Forthomme
Bao-Maréchal
HJ Kim-Piedrabuena.
The Holland/Belgium battle this Saturday morning: Jaspers vs Merckx