BOGOTA - The World Cup cycle returns to Colombia for the first time in 11 years. Frédéric Caudron was the last winner in Medellin in 2013. Many players have already signed up for the restart at the South American continent. The seeded players are known, further places are reserved for players who are high up the rankings. The great interest in this first World Cup of the year is evidenced by the reserve list: that is why there are already 120 players.
The tournament will be played at the Centro de alto Rendimiento in Bogota. Registration is closing on 5 February. The UMB's new ranking points system has affected the list of seeded players for Bogota. Dick Jaspers - and thus not world number one Myung Woo Cho - is now the first seed ahead of Eddy Merckx, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Myung Woo Cho, Marco Zanetti, Quyet Chien Tran, Jun Tae Kim, Haeng Jik Kim, Martin Horn, Tayfun Tasdemir, Phuong Vinh Bao, Sameh Sidhom, Jérémy Bury and Jung Han Heo. These also happen to be the best 14 players in the world rankings, only in a different order. The first of three wildcards to be handed out is Pedro Piedrabuena.
The best-known names who have already applied for the positions up to 149 are Nikos Polychronopoulos, Robinson Morales, Peter Ceulemans, Burak Hashas, Glenn Hofman, Ruben Legazpi, Myeong Jong Cha, Turgay Orak, Roland Forthomme, Jeffrey Jorissen, Huberney Cataño, Tolgahan Kiraz, Berkay Karakurt, Gwendal Maréchal, Hong Chiem Thai, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Ramon Rodriguez and Therese Klompenhouwer.
Best-known names on the reserve list are Luis Aveiga and Carlos Crespo.