3-Cushion
SAINT BREVIN - The reigning champion, with Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens, made a promising start and play their last match against France (Jérémy Bury and Jérôme Barbeillon). They already have seeded for the quarterfinals. The Netherlands with Dick Jaspers and Raimond Burgman are virtually eliminated for a place in the top four.
The Belgians still have two teams in the race: Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens won 2-0 against the Czech Republic tonight, in which match Merckx defeated Gazdos (30 to 12 in 13 innings). The reigning champion play against France tomorrow (11.00). Both teams already have been seeded.
Frédéric Caudron and Peter de Backer (Belgium 2) will face Turkey with Tayfun Tasdemir and Lütfi Cenet. They are almost sure for a place in next round, because the Dutch team gathered one matchpoint in two matches. The Turkish team played a draw against the Netherlands this evening. Jaspers beat Tasdemir (30-22 in 15). Lütfi Cenet trailed 22-5 in five innings against Burgman, but won 30-27 in 16.
The German team with Christian Rudolph and Markus Dömer leads Group G with Denmark and Egypt. The Egyptians have one matchpoint in two matches. Denmark has a good chance for second place with Thomas Andersen and Lars Dunch.
Dani Sánchez and Ruben Legazpi laid the basis for a place in next round by beating Portugal. Sánchez defeated his Portuguese friend Manuel Rui Costa, Legazpi won the match against the young Joao Pedro Ferreira. The Portuguese are out, they lost both matches. Spain and Austria, who meet each other tomorrow, have been seeded.