LAS VEGAS - The day's winners so far came from the USA and South Korea, the averages are still well below 1,500, but starting today, Tuesday, many big names already announce their entrance into the World Cup arena in Las Vegas. Robinson Morales, Burak Hashas, Huberney Cataño and Berkay Karakurt are the first champions of global fame to appear at the gala. Huberney Cataño is one of the headliners from Colombian billiards, Ramon Rodriguez has returned and what about Luis Aveiga, David Pennör, Manuel Rui Costa, Ja In Kang and young players Sam van Etten, Jose Miguel Soares, Lukas Mortensen and Joey de Kok.
The first day in Las Vegas presented a field with four Americans in the top five and 12 USA players out of 16 qualifiers. Christian Tejade became the first day winner with 1,304, ahead of Wilmes Giraldo with 1,034, Do Young Yun with 1,016, Vicky Pineda with 0,937 and Ricardo Carranco with 0,893. Day 2 ended with Ye Sung Jeong the best (1,395) ahead of Van Ly Dao with 1,333, Burak Hashas with 1,333, Do Young Yun with 1,333 and Ramazan Durdu with 1,250. Ramon Rodriguez finished number seven with four match points and 0.983, Harry Pena number 10.
The Dutchmen and the only Belgian in that round were eliminated: Jordy de Kruijf, Wilco van Wijk and Karina Jetten with one won and one lost match and 0.767, 0.761 and 0.644 respectively. Belgian Alain Saijs finished at the bottom of the rankings as number 44 out of 48 with 0.571.
The best-known players and groups starting the third day today (Tuesday from 20.00 West European time) are:
Group A: Thomas Andersen, Seung Kwon Hong, Luis Aveiga
Group C: Joey de Kok, Jose Miguel Soares, Ugur Oktorvaci
Group D: Huub Wilkowski, Berkay Karakurt, Eric Kwon
Group E: David Pennör, Rui Manuel Costa, Jesus Corona
Group G: Gökhan Salman, Mehmet Goren, Harry Pena
Group H: Sung Il Jeong, Lukas Mortensen, Arnim Kahofer
Group I: Dustin Jäschke, Hong Chiem Thai, Sung Kyu Oh
Group J: Ricardo Carranco, Ramon Rodriguez, Herbert Szivach
Group K: Robinson Morales, Muammer Rahmet, Quang Hao Truong
Group L: Ramon Groot, Turgay Orak, Ramazan Durdu
Group M: Huberney Cataño, Lukas Stamm, Do Young Yun
Group N: Burak Hashas, Volkan Cetin, Tolgahan Kiraz
Group P: Sam van Etten, Phuong Vinh Bao, Ye Sung Jeong.