LAUSANNE - The casino in the center of Lausanne has opened its doors for the world top in three cushion for the second time in two years. The roulette tables in Montbenon were changed for two Gabriels billiards, Frédéric Caudron was the best in the first sessions, Marco Zanetti, the defending champion, could not show his brilliant form in which he completed an incredible trilogy last year.
Dick Jaspers survived a hard and scintillating battle with Martin Horn and just could free himself from his German opponent with a final rush. Jérémy Bury, who gave up his status as a pro player and returned to education, showed his happiness after he defeated Torbjörn Blomdahl in a terrible match, fighting for every carom.
The smoke has cleared after the first rounds in which two groups of five battle for four spots in the semi-finals. The prelude was promising: Frédéric Caudron (2.353), Dick Jaspers (2.222) and Martin Horn (2.111) were the big hitters in average, but the real decisions will fall on the second day.
The matches between Jérémy Bury and Torbjörn Blomdahl (40-39 in 24) and Dick Jaspers and Martin Horn (40-38 in 18) were rewarded with a thunderous applause in small, crowded stands. The Dutchman was on the lead after the start, was passed by Horn with a run of ten, escaped at 38-31, 38-34 and 38-37 down and eventually finished with a narrow win.
Martin Horn said: ,,I've got three chances to win and I didn't use them, but about my game I am very satisfied.'' Dick Jaspers said: ,,It turned out into a grueling fight in the last innings: Martin is a fantastic player, who is very hard to beat. But I did it anyway, I finished well, which is very important for the start of this tournament.''
Marco Zanetti started in his match against Swiss Rene Hendriksen 20-8 in 13 and 32-15 in 28 innings and needed for his finish 44 innings (40-33). Frédéric Caudron did much better against another guest player, Fernando Couto. He was never in danger: 40-15 in 17.
Jérémy Bury pulled the trigger in his match against Torbjörn Blomdahl after 24 innings. The last five were played in an immense tension and under lots of pressure. The Frenchman had always been ahead after his attack with nine in the eleventh inning to 22-10. He was overtaken by Blomdahl after seventeen innings (30-28). The endgame unfolded after 34-34 in 19: both players had chances to win. The Swede had three chances to decide the match, made a miscalculation (at 39-39) and was punished by Bury, who took the win and showed his happiness to the audience.
The Parisian has a year behind him with lots of doubts about the rest of his career. ,,I've been thinking for a long time about my future after we knew that Agipi stopped as our sponsor. I realized that it was almost impossible to earn my money without Agipi. And therefore, I decided to go back into education. I'm working as a teacher now, four half days a week in a school near Paris. There's not much time for me to practice, but there is no other option.''
33-year-old Jérémy Bury gives priority to his family instead of playing in more countries. ,,For Frédéric (Caudron) and other players, who play in four of five countries, it might be possible to live as a professional player. But I prefer to be with my family, so I picked up my teaching job since September after the World Cup in Porto.''
He fell out of the world's top twelve after some lesser performances. ,,In Korea, during the World Cup in Guri, I played well: I defeated Dani Sánchez and Sung Won Choi and was outplayed by Frédéric Caudron.''
For the Lausanne Masters, Bury was sick for a couple of days. ,,I couldn't practice a few days.'' But in the match against Blomdahl the Frenchman showed his flawless shape, which eventually brought him the victory.
The positions in the groups:
Group A:
1 Dick Jaspers 1-2-2.22-6
2 Marco Zanetti 1-2-0.909-5
3 Martin Horn 1-0-2.111-10
4 Rene Hendriksen 1-0-0.750-3
5 Sung-Won Choi 0-0-0-0
Group B:
1 Frédéric Caudron 1-2-2.353-6
2 Jérémy Bury 1-2-1.600-9
3 Torbjörn Blomdahl 1-0-1.560-7
4 Fernando Couto 1-0-0.882-3
5 Dani Sánchez 0-0-0-0.