3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM - Are the billiard tables ready to start off, the balls cleaned, have the players arrived on time, the referees and markers ready for the opening round?
The final session of the Masters Agipi is about to start. Jonathan Montel has made the final check before the first games.
18.00: Lütfi Cenet-Jae Ho Cho
21.00: Marco Zanetti-Tayfun Tasdemir.
The 28-year-old Frenchman Montel, who is living in Villerupt, somewhere down Luxembourg is not only the mastermind of all the French championships, but for four years in the Agipi Masters as well. He directs the schedule from his chair in the control room of the tournament.
Jonathan Montel is a professional administrator at a school, he’s involved in French billiard since 2008, since 2012 he is the sports director.
What does it incluse, that function?
Jonathan: ,,I am responsible for all French championships, 43 per year in all disciplines. And in fact, I am the president of the sports committee, so I keep monitoring all tournaments, each team individually and in all disciplines.''
How many hours are you working for the billiard sport?
Jonathan: ,,Twenty per week, I guess, in my function for the federation. I stopped playing myself, but sometimes I am referee for the team of Laxou.’’
What is the difference, when you direct a French championship or the Agipi Masters?
Jonathan: ,,There is no comparison, the Agipi Masters is by far the biggest and most important tournament we have in France.''
What is your function in the Agipi Masters?
Jonathan: ,,The overall view, starting the games, the contact with players, with referees, results. And if there is a protest, or a discussion, then I have to fix it.''
How many referees and how many markers are involved in the tournament?
Jonathan: ,,Six referees, five markers, mostly the same people, because they like to come here.''
Who is your favorite player that performed here in the tournaments?
Jonathan: ,,Torbjörn Blomdahl.''
Which are the best or most spectacular matches that you have seen so far in the Agipi Masters?
Jonathan: ,,I remember Torbjörn Blomdahl’s performance, at the end of his match against Ruben Legazpi and the start of his match against Dani Sánchez. He made 51 points in 8 innings. Furthermore the match of Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn, in which Jaspers ran a 20 and a 17…, but De Bruijn still could level to 50-50. And in the last qualifying round the match Caudron-Jaspers. Caudron was 44-7 behind, but still could win.''
Finally, in this final round. Is there an equalizing inning?
Jonathan: ,,The match is finished with the last carom, so there is no equalizing inning. That makes it very important to win the lag.’’