Carom
Big guns shine at the small tables
BRANDENBURG - It was not all that impressive what was shown by the three-cushion players at the small table in the qualifications. Today (Thursday) the knockout rounds were launched with 32 players, including Dick Jaspers, Dani Sánchez, Ruben Legazpi and Michael Nilsson.
The big guns entered the room for the battle on the small tables at the European championship. And Spaniard Ruben Legazpi started off with a flawless demonstration against the young Dutchman Jim Anneveld, whom he defeated 40-4 in eight innings (average 5.000).
He was still on top of the rank after half of the round had been played. Glenn Hoffman and Dick Jaspers showed to be candidates for the title as well. Hofman defeated the Egyptian Sameh Sidhom, one of his big competitors in his junior years. He bested his opponent 40-12 in 9.
Jaspers flaunted with a pretty good start against the poor Belgian Tim Gorrebeeck, who scored only three times in nine innings: 40-3.
Michel van Camp came in as a seeded player, because he was in the final last year. The Belgian won his duel with Karsten Schubert without being in problems (40-18 in 21).
The surprise in this round came from Herbert Szivacz, who managed to outplay Murat Tüzül, the Turkish player 40-33 in 24.
Kay de Zwart showed up in an excellent match against Peter Debaes (40-21 in 14) and Huub Wilkowski, who was already strong in the preliminary group with Glenn Hoffman, defeated Martin Spoormans 40-32 in 13.
Dani Sánchez and Michael Nilsson also are in top sixteen, the Spaniard after a win vs. Karl Makik from Austria (40-20 in 14), Nilsson beat the Belgian Henk Casteleyn 40-23 in a very moderate match (28 innings).