Carom Series
ZURICH - The European club teams in the classic disciplines performed at three locations this weekend for five places in the final rounds. Etikon from the Netherlands, Sueca from Spain, Chartres and Andernos from France and Bochum from Germany have been qualified. They play the final stage together with Ronchin, that was automatically seeded as the organizer from 11 to April 23.
Five players recorded a one hundred percent score individually: Jean Paul de Bruijn, Dave Christiani, Willy Gérimont, Henri Tilleman and Raul Cuenca. Four players were undefeated with two wins and a draw: Xavier Gretillat, Thomas Nockemann, Peter De Backer and Patrick Niessen.
The multiple European and defending champion Etikon was never in trouble. The Dutch spoiled only one point in nine matches, against Andernos from France. The Belgian bump in the balk-line 71/2 between Patrick Niessen and Peter de Backer ended in a draw in four innings: 200-200.
Jean-Paul de Bruijn signed up in the second game against Anag for one of the highlights, when he beat Pavel Bohm in one cushion 120 in 3, including a final run of 114. The Dutchman finished in his favorite discipline with an excellent 18.00 general average. Henri Tilleman recorded 53.00 in 47/2, Patrick Niessen 50.00 in 71/2.
Andernos finished second (4 points) and qualified as the best second. Peter De Backer remained unbeaten with two wins and a draw (24.00), Bernard Baudoin recorded two victories in one cushion and 8.00 average.
Willy Gérimont (Chartres) took the maximum score for the home team with 53.57 average. Also remarkable was Xavier Gretillat's performance (2 wins and a draw, 46.15 average). Jacky Justice won two of his three matches in one cushion with 5.67.
The German team of Bochum finished second with five match points and 13 game points. Thomas Nockemann was unbeaten in 71/2 with 2 wins and a draw (25.00), Fabian Blondeel took four match points in the 47/2 (47.36) and Ludger Havlik finished in one cushion with four match points and 7.22.
The home team of Sueca won the group in Spain with Esteve Mata, Raul Cuenca and Dave Christiani, ahead of French Soissons (Olivier Careaux, Pierre Soumagne, Alain Remond).
The Oissel team (Michael Devogelaere, Johann Petit, Arnim Kahofer) was third, the young Czech Anag (Hosek, Kozak, Baca) finished on fourth place.
In this group, two players made the maximum score: Dave Christiani in one cushion, averaging 17.14 and Raul Cuenca in 71/2 with 35.29.