NAREJOS - The rookie at the World stage of three cushion was punished with a knock-out that he will never forget. The 18-year-old Argentine Mauro Salvador travelled about 10.000 kilometres with his father and his mother to make his first appearance at a World championship. The opening day in the Spanish arena in Narejos was a mission impossible for the South American boy, a match against the world champion, the one-year-older, 19-year Korean Myung-Woo Cho. The judgment was ruthless: 25-1 in six innings.
The last point in his match, leading up the Korean to a new junior match record with 4.167 average, a bankshot, was brilliant in all its beauty. The scoreboard pointed 25-0 for one minute, but fortunately, the young Argentine could make his only point in the equalizer. Then, the applause for the little magician, touching the balls like Messi on a soccer stadium and Agassi on a tennis court, rolled from the stands.
Mauro Salvador, eighteen years old from Quilmes, south of Buenos Aires, who wants to work in a barber shop, playing billiards since his 12th year, later said that he was moved by 'the magic' in his opponent's game. He was never tortured like this on the billiard table, but the better it felt when he won his next match against the Egyptian Youssef Ossama, when he was cheered from the audience by some 'Vamos Mauro' yells.
The first knockout at the world championship, played for the third time in history in this Spanish coastal region, was served by the champion himself. With seven from the start, eleven in his fifth inning (to 23-0) and two points to finish. He showed his bounteous laugh to the audience and set the tone for a new coup. Who else than Myung-Woo Cho is the main favourite to be on the highest stage on Sunday? And how will the podium look like? Two or three Koreans for gold, silver and bronze. Or can the Spaniard and European champion Carlos Anguita prevent that for his own crown? And how strong are the two most feared contenders from outside, Gwendal Marechal and Shota Funaki?
With sixteen they were launched, after the selection among the main under-22 talents in global three cushion. Four of the sixteen played over one average on the first day. The Korean billiards experts tell us that there are at least sixteen young over-one players in their country. This is only the top three that comes into action at this World championship, with last year's numbers one and two. The 21-year-old Jung-Jin Shin, showing up in the Dutch competition this year, didn't start on his very best. He was suffering a cold and a runny nose for a couple of days.
The group leaders after one day are Myung-Woo Cho, Beom-Yeol Lee, Gwendal Marechal and Jung-Ju Shin, despite a draw in his last match against Colombian Sanchez. Gwendal Marechal won his match against Shota Funaki in a great style (17 innings) and surely is among the favourites for the podium.
Carlos Anguita and Beom-Yeol Lee already played a match that was decisive for the group win. The Korean attacked with 11 in the early part and also had the better rush to finish after 20-20.
The rankings in four groups after one day:
Group A:
1 Myung-Woo Cho 4-1.923-11
2 Mario Mercader 2-0.704-5
3 Mauro Salvador 2-0.565-3
4 Youssef Ossama 0-0.520-4
Group B:
1 Beom-Yeol Lee 4-1.120-11
2 Carlos Anguita 2-1.343-5
3 Joey de Kok 2-0.704-5
4 Brian Peralta 0-0.667-4
Group C:
1 Gwendal Marechal 4-1.020-6
2 Shota Funaki 2-0.936-5
3 Tobias Bouerdick 2-0.696-6
4 Caro Nelson 0-0.630-2
Group D:
1 Jung-Ju Shin 3-0.909-6
2 Cristian Sanchez 3-0.893-5
3 Arda Güngör 2-0.716-6
4 Daniel Pena 0-0.506-5.
The Argentin barber Mauro Salvador
Myung-Woo Cho, the best after one day
Beom-Yeol Lee, the leader in Group B after his win over Carlos Anguita
French player Gwendal Marechal tops his group ahead of Shota Funaki
Jung-Ju Shin, a cold, a runny nose, but still in front in his group