Hanam, September 2nd 2019.
The future is here: Cho Myung Woo.
The most talented junior player since Haeng Jik Kim is now a senior, and he’s one of the world’s best already. Cho Myung Woo arrived at the summit of international 3-cushion today, when he won the prestigious LG U+ Cup in Seoul. The youngster never played a match below 2 average all week, convincingly defeated Semih Sayginer in the final (40-16 in 17 innings) and took home a first prize of 65.000 Euro.
The final day was a confrontation between Turkey (Sayginer and Tasdemir) and South Korea (Cho Jae Ho and Cho Myung Woo). The youngest of the two Cho’s (not family) had a fairly comfortable win over Tayfun Tasdemir (40-25 in 17), helped by runs of 6 and 9. Tasdemir won this year’s opening World Cup event (Antalya) and underlined that he again in the hunt for the big titles.
The other semifinal will long be remembered for a sensational first inning. Jae Ho Cho won the lag and ran 10. He then had to watch from the chair how Sayginer almost doubled that production with a run of 19! The Korean got back into the match, regained the lead but the Turk had the last salvo when he ran 8 and out to win 40-35 in 10 innings. It does not get any better, in our sport.
The final was a bit one-sided: Sayginer could never find his stroke and young Cho produced relentlessly. It looks as if matches over 2 average are quite normal for him, he ended on an impressive 2.330 for the event. His great smile is becoming a trademark already, and he wins over fans worldwide with his attractive style of play. It is not too daring to call the young Korean a future world champion.
Hanam, September 2nd 2019.
The LG+ Cup is ready for its fifth edition, starting on 4 September in Hanam, South Korea.
Sixteen of the world’s best players will compete for an impressive total prize fund of 240.000.000 Korean Won, which is the equivalent of 180.000 Euro. First prize to the winner: 60.000 Euro.
The format: four groups of four will play a Round Robin, the best two advancing to the quarterfinals. All matches will be to 40 points. Eight Korean players, one Vietnamese and seven Europeans have been invited. Quyet Chien Tran is the title defender. Other former winners: Dong Koong Kang, Choong Bok Lee and Marco Zanetti.
The list of players:
Jae Ho Cho
Jung Han Heo
Sung Won Choi
Haeng Jik Kim
Wan Young Choi
Myung Woo Cho
Choong Bok Lee
Bong Chul Kim
Dick Jaspers
Marco Zanetti
Eddy Merckx
Tayfun Tasdemir
Semih Sayginer
Torbjörn Blomdahl
Dani Sánchez
Quyet Chien Tran
There is a 1.500 Euro bonus for the shortest match and the high run. Matches will start on Thursday; the opening ceremony is at 13.00 Korean time. The entire event can de seen on Kozoom.