Kauffeld keeps his best guns for the end

BRANDENBURG - Without any nerves, he said after the match, as a real killer, Guido Kauffeld finished the job in the final. He was extremely happy with the title and was passionately embraced by family and supporters. ,,Who would not be happy with gold at a European championship.''

The 20-year-old 'Limburger', who, like his compatriot and two-time champion Gertjan Veldhuizen played for the last time as a junior, won his first international title. In the final, he defeated the exhausted Andy de Bondt, who claimed the excuse that it was all too much for him. ,,I have played eleven matches in total, today I was exhausted.''

The Belgian started like a rocket in the free fame with parties 1 and 2 innings, while his final opponent needed some luck to reach the quarter finals. Kauffeld was third in his group, but because the prelims were played with three groups, two best third in the group were qualified.

Guido Kauffeld was one of them. He recovered miraculously from that slow start and both played his matches in the quarterfinals and semifinals in 1 inning.

The battle for gold and silver had a smooth start: both players got difficult positions in the first innings and could not get control at the balls.

Kauffeld was the first who managed to do it: he finished the match with a run of 243. ,,I did not find the ideal position, but I kept control, that was important. And I felt no nerves.''

Guido Kauffeld is a player from Limburg, he developped with practicint in the national federation. ,,Toon van Heesch, my current teamleader in the top team, noticed that I had talent and brought me to the federation. There I got training from René Hinthum from Oss. My current trainer is Patrick Niessen, who has a lot of international experience. That can help me further to the top.''