SEOUL - The high talented, youngest and smallest player of the sixteen top class in the LGU Cup has the best average after two days, but still no match points. Therefore, 20-year young Myung-Woo Cho is eliminated for the knock-outs with eight in the big Seoul event, scoring 2.129 in two matches. The always cheerful Korean is the number four in his group in which Dani Sánchez is the frontrunner followed by HaengJik Kim and Jae-Ho Cho. Three players have the maximum points after two days: Frédéric Caudron (4, 2.105), Murat Naci Coklu (4, 1.778) and Dani Sánchez (4, 1.600).
The second day was launched by a brilliant match in Group B between the two young Koreans: HaengJik Kim, beaten by Dani Sánchez on the first day, overpowered the unfortunate Myung Woo Cho. The match levelled straight from the start, Myung Woo Cho still led at the break, but Kim grabbed victory 40-34 in 11 innings (averages 3.636/3.090). Little Cho plays against Dani Sánchez, tomorrow, who is one of the sponsors with his billiard company DS and a big friend of the young talent. HaengJik Kim and Jae-Ho Cho, both with two match points, battle it out for the other qualification. Dani Sánchez recorded his second win against Jae-Ho Cho: 40-34 in 21 innings.
Murat Naci Coklu has the best chances to qualify in Group A after his second victory. With a flashy start (18-9 in 5, run of 10), Coklu took a lead over Hyun-Kon Kim, which he consolidated and eventually finished 40-27 in the 22nd inning. Dong-Koong Kang recovered from a poor opening day and defeated Torbjörn Blomdahl. The Swede led 14-9 after five innings (run 10), Kang passed his opponent with a twelve in the 16th inning (31-29) and had the best final shot: 40-36 in 22. The European clash between Coklu and Blomdahl is decisive on Thursday, Dong-Koong Kang is the third contender, Hyun-Kon Kim is virtually eliminated.
Marco Zanetti had a stiff opponent to Sung Uk Oh, the rather unknown Korean in the field, was also strong on the opening day against Eddy Merckx (40-38 loss). In the final part against Zanetti, the Korean forced a draw with three in the equalizer. The Italian leads Group C with three match points and the minor average (1.333). Thanks to Quyet Chien Tran's victory over Eddy Merckx, the third day in this group turns into a thriller. The four players still have a chance to qualify. Quyet Chien Tran was unstoppable in his second performance after his poor tournament start (loss, 1.000 average). Tran led in the match with Merckx 6-0, 14-1, 26-6, 38-16 (runs 7, 8, 9) and won 40-19 in 11 innings.
Frédéric Caudron seems on his way to a smooth qualification in Group D, in which he is the only unbeaten player. The Belgian world champion won his two matches in 19 innings and is the second on average, 2.105. The Korean Hyun Min Seo, on the first day the black beast for Dick Jaspers, was now a way down to Caudron: after 12-7, Caudron attacked with 10 to 24-13 and he made the finishing touch at 40-22 in 19. Dick Jaspers overran Korean Jae-Guen Kim in a solid final phase: after 23-23 in 11 innings, the Dutchman attacked for a riant 40-29 in 20 innings.
The rankings and the remaining matches:
Group A:
1 Murat Naci Coklu 4-1.778-10
2 Torbjörn Blomdahl 2-1.949-11
3 Dong-Koong Kang 2-1.578-12
4 Hyun-Kon Kim 0-1.282-6
Matches Thursday: Coklu-Blomdahl, Kang-Kim
Group B:
1 Dani Sánchez 4-1.600-9
2 HaengJik Kim 2-1.900-9
3 Jae-Ho Cho 2-1.805-9
4 Myung-Woo Cho 0-2.129-11
Matches left: Sánchez-Myung-Woo Cho, Kim-Jae-Ho Cho
Group C:
1 Marco Zanetti 3-1.333-6
2 Eddy Merckx 2-1.967-7
3 Quyet Chien Tran 2-1.659-8
4 Sung-Uk Oh 1-1.696-10
Matches Thursday: Zanetti-Merckx, Tran-Oh
Group D:
1 Frédéric Caudron 4-2.105-10
2 Dick Jaspers 2-1.875-10
3 Hyun-Min Seo 2-1.590-9
4 Jae-Guen Kim 0-1.256-7.
Matches Thursday: Caudron-Jaspers, Seo-Kim.
