Carom
MADRID - Two years after his last Spanish title, Dani Sánchez again has shown the best player of his country. The triple world champion won the final of the Spanish championship, played in the offices of the Spanish federation in Madrid. He defeated in the final game the surprisingly strong Rafael Garrido 40-29 in 25 innings.
In the semifinals Sánchez outplayed the previous champion Antonio Ortiz in a superb match: 40-21 in 19 innings. Rafael Garrido from Madrid won against Alfonso Legazpi 40-27 in 22 innings.
Dani Sánchez took his fifteenth national title in three cushion. The very best in the tournament, he showed in the semifinal against Toni Ortiz, in which match he entertained the audience with a spectacular number of caroms.
Some other title favorites, such as Javier Palazón, Ruben Legazpi, Jose Maria Mas and Sergio Jimenez were eliminated in an earlier stage.
The Spanish championship was played with a total of 103 participants.
The championship was also characterized by a further escalation in the conflct between the Spanish federation RFEB and the Association of Players, the EBA, which condemns the policy of the federation publicly. The Players Association, which in a short time have gathered five hundred members, concluds that many decisions have negative consequences for the players and tournaments.
The ABE has tried to provoke a debate with the federation board, in which Fernando Requena, the President, last week has been elected by a majority of only one vote.
The players collectively argue amongst others for a better, more intensive approach in finding new sources of income, for a better structure, for stimulating and motivating the billiard sport at all levels, the development of youth, the organization of championships in other disciplines and greater transparency of the elections.
The players association said during the championship, that they did not receive any response from the direction committee of the Spanish federation, which has only conveyed economic problems for the minor situation in billiards.
,,We have been grown to a collective of five hundred players in a short time and we argue for better management, because the future of our beloved sport is in serious danger'', the players have written in a public letter.
The ABE emphasizes that still they are open for a positive and constructive dialogue.