SHARM EL SHEIKH - That was an apotheosis of four world billiard matches as never seen before. The late night session at the World Championships in Sharm El Sheikh brought the four best ranked billiard players into the arena against four winners from the first session. The outcome of the four evening games was miraculous: all four ended in 40-40, unprecedented at a World Championship and according to the experts, never in any other tournament in billiards.
X Peter Ceulemans, after a run of 9 and four misses for his tenth and last point against Dick Jaspers, tied for first with 1 in the equalizer: 40-40 in 21.
X Ruben Legazpi was first to pass the finish against Torbjörn Blomdahl at 40-38 in 22, but Blomdahl levelled with 2 in the equalizer: 40-40 in 22.
X Michael Nilsson came to match point against Marco Zanetti with a run of 6, but missed a zig-zag for his last. Zanetti made it 40-39, Nilsson made 40-40 in 25.
X Rui Costa shone with a great run of 15 against Eddy Merckx, almost took victory a little later, but at 40-37 in 27 Merckx got the last inning: he scored three times for 40-40 in 27.
What a climax to the first day at the World Championships in Sharm El Sheikh, where the early evening was reserved for a parade of the world's top four. It could not have ended more beautifully and sensationally, even if those matches were not yet about life and death, about survival or defeat.
Earlier in the day, in the first ball change of the global tournament, the youngest of the whole World field, Alessio D'Agata (21) from Italy, did not make a very good start against Nikos Polychronopoulos (40-19 in 22). The young Alessio has to hope for a miracle against Korean Heo in his second group match.
The oldest of the tournament, Mohsen Fouda (66) from Egypt, did not do better against Michael Nilsson (loss 40-31 in 42) and must hope for an improbable revenge against Marco Zanetti.
Those in between, in terms of games, winners and losers still have their chances in most groups, as the system pits winners against winners first and losers for a second chance at the tables tomorrow (Wednesday). The top four have made their first appearance (starting with four draws!!!), the other seeded players have been allowed to watch at the opening day.
The first session pitted two outsiders against each other in Group A. Ruben Legazpi and Gwendal Maréchal got off to a cautious start, Maréchal having the best part in the middle section, in which he ran out to 22-14, but first with 7 and 3 and later with 6, 2 and 5, the Spaniard took the win 40-35 in 23, despite five points from Maréchal in the equarlizer. Ruben Legazpi played a draw against Blomdahl in the later evening and is already qualified for the knock-outs.
Peter Ceulemans had a smooth start in Group B against Cetin Behzat with a respectable average (40-31 in 21), Michael Nilsson beat Fouda, Rui Costa another opponent who rarely comes into the picture internationally: Mashhour Abu Tayeh, with 40-25 in 33. Peter Ceulemans, after his later draw against Jaspers (whom he beat in the World Cup) has already secured a place in the best 32.
Jacob Haack Sörensen (Group E) was the first to attack Ronny Lindemann with a 7, but both had a long silence in the match with 23-22 in 22. Two times 4 brought Lindemann in the best position for the final win: 40-33 in 35. Tayfun Tasdemir is the third man in this group.
Jose Juan Garcia and Martin Bohac were at 11-11 in 15, it rippled to the finish and after five 2's in a row Bohac was first on 39. Garcia fought back and took the win with 1 and 5: 40-39 in 32. Dani Sánchez still joins this trio.
Javier Teran from Ecuador (Group G) played the very best match of the first session against Yasser Shehayeb from Lebanon, whom he showed all corners of the billiard table. It was 40-13 in 16 innings with a highest run of 9 for Teran. Haeng Jik Kim is the third man.
Chang Hoon Seo (Group H) had no fears and tears, because his opponent Javier Vera from Mexico had all the bad luck in the world and lost by 40-15 in 27. Sameh Sidhom will join as the third player.
Mauricio Gutierrez did not have the best start. The Colombian won (40-33, 45) and Sayginer will be his first real opponent tomorrow.
Ludo Kools, the Dutch Master, had a good start in Group J, played constantly around 2 average, saw his opponent Arnim Kahofer come close in the second part, but again stayed cool enough to win the match 40-35 in 29. Murat Naci Coklu is the third man.
Wan Young Choi defeated Mexican Christian Hernandez 40-28 in 25 in Group K and is preparing for Martin Horn as third man.
Takeshima O, the Japanese with the strange, one-letter last name, cleared the way for the next round in Group L by beating Can Capak 40-35 in 30. Jérémy Bury is the third player in this group.
Pedro Gonzalez beat Youssef Ossama 40-23 in Group M (third player Lütfi Cenet), Erick Tellez made a strong impression in Group N against Miyashiga (40-28 in 30, third player is Sung-won Choi) and Nikos Polychronopoulos left the young Italian D'Agata far behind (40-19 in 22). The third man in this group is Jung Han Heo.
Roland Forthomme and Choong Bok Lee (Group P) was a match in which the Belgian was almost all the way in the lead. The Korean outsider could not get into his game and gave up at 27-17. Forthomme got free play at 38-27, but took five more innings to finish at 40-33 in 31.
Peter Ceulemans, the first to be in the best 32 after draw against Jaspers
Javier Teran, beste partij
Rui Costa, run of 15 and draw against Merckx
Ruben Legazpi almost the beter of Blomdahl: the Swede levelled with 2
Pictures Hervé Lacombe