3-Cushion
ATHENS - The Greek title in the three cushion is again won by Nikos Polychronopoulos, who scored his fourth in a row. But never before, the best Greek in the world ranking needed so much luck to crown himself champion. ,,The luck of the strongest'', he knew after the last of five Grand Prix tournaments for the championship. Dionisis Tsokantas, the last winner in Korrali club, was second at the podium ahead of Kostas Kokkoris and Apostolos Balogiannis.
The later champion lost in the final tournament in the quarter-finals to Thomas Koukis (40-35 in 24 innings) and then had all the luck of the world to conquer a new title. Four players had the opportunity to dethrone the champion: Kostas Kokkoris, Apostolos Balogiannis, Thomas Koukis and Kostas Papakonstantinou.
,,It was drama up to the last points'', concluded Nick Tremoulis, the sports director at the end of the tournament. Kostas Kokkoris had been the new Greek champion if he had won in the semi-finals against Tsokantas. But Tsokantas won. And Balogiannis had been the new champion if he had won the final against Tsokantas. But Balogiannis lost 40-33 in 22.
And... as a result, the title went to Polychronopoulos again, who played four of the five tournaments and won two of them. For all players, only the best four of five tournaments were counted. Double points were awarded in the last of five tournaments.
Dionisis Tsokantas defeated in the semi-final Thomas Koukis 40-33 in 31. Apostolos Balogiannis won against Kostas Kokkoris 40-31 in 34.
Before the last tournament, the ranking on top was:
1 Polychonopoulos
2 Filippos Kasidokostas
3 Kostas Kokkoris
4 Kostas Antonatos
5 Kostas Papakonstantinou
6 Apostolos Balogiannis
7 Thomas Koukis
8 Dimitris Moutsos.
The final ranking after five tournaments:
1 Nikos Polychronopoulos (1.656)
2 Dionisis Tsokantas (1.237)
3 Kostas Kokkoris (1.310)
4 Apostolos Balogiannis 1.122
5 Kostas Papakonstantinou 1.451
6 Filippos Kasidokostas 1.412
7 Thomas Koukis 1.055
8 Kostas Antontos 1.398.