3-Cushion
LAS VEGAS - The World Cup in Las Vegas was on its second day and it was not yet the start where the Europeans were among the best. The Vietnamese Dinh Tien Dang led the day's ranking ahead of an American (Miguel Alvarez), two Koreans (Jeon Geuk Bang and Bong Joo Hwang) and well known Ecuadorian Luis Aveiga. Spaniard Jordi Garriga was the first European in sixth place ahead of Joey de Kok and Huub Wilkowski from the Netherlands, among others. Near to the bottom of that ranking was Huberney Cataño the number 15 and second last player from the winner's groups.
The World star from Colombia, who won the silver medal with his teammate Pedro Gonzalez in Viersen, faces a new showdown on the third day: he will meet Arnim Kahofer, the number 2 of the European Championships in one cushion last weekend, and the Korean Tae Kyu Lee in one of the strongest groups on this third day of the World Cup.
Huberney suffered a remarkable loss against Carlos Mario Villegas (30-21 in 21), but recovered with a win against Young Kyu Lee (30-12 in 22) and became the group winner with two match points (2-1,186-5). The American Villegas, as one of the best losers, also advanced to the next round and will face Dutchmen Volkan Cetin and Joey de Kok today (Tuesday).
Joey de Kok was one of the players with the maximum points on the second day, as was Huub Wilkowski. Spaniard Carlos Crespo just slipped away as the fifth best runner-up. Sam van Etten from the Netherlands (2-1,036-7), who finished one place below, will not return, unless there are more cancellations today. The same goes for Raymon Groot (2-1,017-5), the Dutch New Yorker and young Austrian Nikolaus Kogelbauer.
Dinh Tien Dang was a modest number 1 at the league table on Monday with 4 match points and 1,428 (run 8) Mazin Shooni led the ranking after the first day on Sunday with 4 match points and 1,276 (5).
The third day (which starts today in West European time 19.00) will be launched among others with the match between Huberney Cataño against Tae Kyu Lee. The most interesting groups with well known players:
Group E: Francis Forton-MuammerRahmet-John Park.
Group F: Tonny Carlsen, Barry van Beers, Jorge Herman Patarroyo.
Group G: Myeong Jong Cha, Huub Wilkowski, Jose Miguel Soares.
Group I: Volkan Cetin, Joey de Kok, Carlos Mario Villegas.
Group J: Tom Löwe, Jeffrey Jorissen, Dong Ryong Kim.
Group K: Carlos Crespo, Jordi Garriga, Turgay Orak.
Group L: Luis Aveiga, Cengiz Karaca, Kevin Vasseur.
Group O: Robinson Morales, Miguel Almares, Claus Maurer.