NEW YORK - Two days of preliminary rounds in the Open Verhoeven are divided into 127 (Monday) and 128 matches (Tuesday) to 25 caroms without an equalizing inning. The twelve match tables in the Carom Cafe were all occupied on the first day from the early morning until the late evening by the fifteen groups of seven players. They were competing for the places in the next qualifying round. The leading star in the field of 105 players was Tayfun Tasdemir with matches in eight, nine and eleven innings.
The Turkish player, who was so unlucky to be eliminated at the Porto World Cup and therefore dropped out of the top twelve, showed an excellent form in the group in which he was the sovereign leader: six match points, 2.679 average. Two Koreans, Jae Ho Cho and Keonhwi Cho, were also flawless winners in only eight innings.
Martin Horn returns to the international scene in New York, where he shows up for the sixth time. He hastened to say that it's not a final comeback. ,,But probably I will play the World Cup in Hurghada as a kind of a holiday.'' The German won his three matches and seems on his way to qualification. The same for Semih Saygıner, he is on track, however his start was less impressive. The young Dutchman Raymon Groot could even threaten Sayginer until 21-18, but then lacked the finishing touch.
The Asian champion Haeng Jik Kim missed the start due to two losses in his first matches. He will need four good wins at least to continue in the next round.
Sports director Charly Brown, who maintained the tight schedule as much as possible, spoke about a smooth first day without any troubles. Tomorrow (Tuesday) the first twelve scheduled matches start again at 9.30.
The summary of the fifteen groups:
Group A:
Three players, including Carom Cafe owner Michael Kang, are topping the group with four match points out of two matches. With 1.923 of average the Korean Kyu Tae Lee is the best of these leaders followed by Kang with 1.471 and Jan Olsen 0.735.
Group B:
The American champion Hugo Patino and Peer Harpsoe top the group with the maximum of four points out of two matches. The American is by far the best in the group with matches in 20 and 16 innings (1.389). Song Lim gathered four match points, but played three matches. He had no chance in his match against Patino (25-10 in 18). The Dutch Karina Jetten needs a strong second day after a victory against Erik Wienke and losses against Patino and Lim.
Group C:
The Vietnamese Quoc Nguyen Nguyen, the Dane Brian Knudsen and the Korean William Oh are battling it out for the group win. With 1.768 average Nguyen is by far the best. He won his matches in 14 and 18 innings. Knudsen has also four match points and 1.316. Gilbert Najim is chasing the leaders after he lost against Knudsen 25-11 in 18.
Group D:
The top positions are for Tayfun Tasdemir and Sang Jin Lee, both with three wins. The Turk played his best match against Wilco Meusen, whom he defeated 25-6 in eight innings. Sang Jin Lee saw his average go down after a win in forty innings. The two leaders are almost certain to qualify, although Joel Switala and Wilco Meusen still have a little chance.
Group E:
Jae Ha Cho was one of the stars on the first day with wins in 8, 13 and 13 innings, making 2.206 average. His best match was against one of his competitors in this group, the Turk Gökhan Salman who was blown away with 25-6 in 8 (run of thirteen). Nalle Olsson and Salman, who defeated the Swede 25-10 in 22, both have four match points out of three matches and compete for the second place.
Group F:
Jérémy Bury defeated his two opponents, Eric Hughes and Charles Delorme, 25-10 and 25-4 and is not threatened by any opposition as the leader in the group. Danny Kort and Erick Valerio remained unbeaten in the start-up phase.
Group G:
Martin Horn tops the leading group that has been significantly depleted. With three wins in 13, 17 and 18 innings, the German left his opponents David Hernandez, Don Sperber and Fred Lamers far behind. Sergui Tapua Castillo is still unbeaten after two matches, Poul Bjøring with four match points out of three has the chances in his own hand.
Group H:
The first group match between the two Koreans Dong Koong Kang and Jun Tae Kim was the most important of the day: the young Kim came quick out of the starting blocks, but his experienced compatriot was back in time and finished 25-16 in 11 innings. Rufino Perez is unbeaten with four match points, Jun Tae Kim will undoubtedly be his main rival for the qualification.
Group I:
Huberney Catano and Young Gull Lee have the best chances with four match points, both the Colombian and Korean with 1.042 of average. Philippe Malsert is still in the race for the second position with two wins and a loss against Catano.
Group J:
Two Vietnamese fired up the group and gathered six match points out of three matches. Quyet Chien Tran and Duc Anh Nguyen Chien are a notch above the others with 1.471 and 1.389. The only opposition is coming from John Tomassetti, the father of the eleven year old Luca, who won twice and lost to Khali Diab 25-13 in 47 innings.
Group K:
The tournament had a disappointing start for Haeng Jik Kim: the Asian champion lost his first two matches to Chris Bartzos (25-15 in 14) and Keonhwi Cho, his compatriot 15-12 in 18. With three wins, Cho leads the group, he even defeated Chris Bartzos 25-1 in eight innings.
Group L:
Roland Forthomme and Kang Lee top the group with two wins, the Belgian with the highest average 1.786, the Korean recorded 1.190. Ira Lee suffered one loss in three matches, 25-18 in 21 against Forthomme.
Group M:
The road to the next round is open for Murat Naci Coklu with three victories. The Turk, who won one match in 9 innings, is on top with 1.500 ahead of George Caram with four points out of three matches.
Group N:
The American Sonny Cho did we;; for himself with three wins and 1.027. He leads the minor group followed by Hong Jong Myong with four points. Bill Walsh and Roger Sequeira are still in the race for the second place.
Group O:
The battle for the lead turns out into a match between Vinh Ly The (six points, 1.829) and Semih Saygıner (six points, 1.119). More opposition is not expected for the two leaders, unless the little miracle will come from Raymon Groot (two points, 0.667) and Dieter Ernst (two points, 0.418).
Jae Ho Cho, matches in 8, 13 and 13 innings
Martin Horn is back on the international stage in New York
Quyet Chien Tran, one of the Vietnamese stars
The surprising Korean Keonhwi Cho in during 8-innings match
The overview of the playing arena in the Carom Cafe