3-Cushion
BOTTROP/PORCIA - On the first day of the preliminary rounds for the European Cup three cushions for club teams, Michael Nilsson and Marco Zanetti were in the spotlights with matches over 40 caramboles in ten innings (4,000). The French of Cetsi Morangis, with Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens as leading players, and the Danes of BK Varde, are with one leg in the final rounds after one day of playing. BK Gröndal started well in Ronchin, where the Turks of Karsyaka Spor did not show up due to visa problems the three teams left play a double round.
The match between Cetsi Morangis and De Goeie Queue in Paiporta was already decisive for the top position in the group. The French won 6-2 thanks to two strong performances of the two leaders. Eddy Merckx defeated Frédéric Caudron 40-26 in 14, Eddy Leppens bested Jean Paul de Bruijn in 13 innings 40-20. Jean Reverchon signed for the team win by beating Jerry Hermans in a moderate match. Wesley de Jaeger was the only winner for De Goeie Queue against Richard Bitalis in 15 innings.
Cetsi Morangis has almost secured the top positions by wins over De Goeie Queue and Paiporta. Tomorrow, the French team is still playing against BC Zurich from Switzerland.
Michael Nilsson was the man of the day in the Bottrop poule with a great win over Christian Rudolph: 40-10 in ten innings with a run of 21! The Swede said after that match: ,,I'm playing with a carbon shaft since this week, a Recon of Predator, 12.4 millimeter. And it played fantastic.'' The Danish number one player, Brian Hansen, also made a strong impression with matches in 12 and 14 innings (3.076 average). BK Varde is on the leading position in the Bottrop group, followed by the Turks of Gunduz Spor and Bottroper BA, that was defeated 8-0 by Varde.
In the French flight in Ronchin, it will turn out into a battle between BK Gröndal and Albert. The match between the two teams ended in 6-2 for the Danes, but they meet again tomorrow. BK Gröndal is on top before Albert after the first day. Peter Ceulemans: ,,We only have a chance if we win 8-0 against Berlin and 6-2 against Gröndal.
Kurt Ceulemans defeated Tonny Carlsen 40-23 in 26. Dion Nelin was the better of Peter Ceulemans 40-35 in 34. The German Norbert Roestel surprised with a win over Tonny Carlsen 40-33 in 28.
Buffalo from the Netherlands and BSK Union from Austria battle it out for the group win in Athens. The Dutch are the winners when they play 4-4. Buffalo won two matches with 8-0 and played a draw against the Barrage Club. Jean van Erp and Jeffrey Jorissen remained unbeaten.
Dick Jaspers was the best man in the BSK Union team with two wins, in 18 and 23 innings. Glenn Hofman won a match in 25, Jean van Erp in 26 innings.
Marco Zanetti triumphed in his match in ten innings against Austrian Claus Maurer. Green Planet Gold (with Zanetti and Bury), Billar Club Valencia (Martin Horn and Dave Christiani) and BC Deurne are still in the race for the group win in Porcia. The Spanish team and the Italians played 4-4 in the late night match. Marco Zanetti bested Martin Horn 40-26 in 23 innings. BC Deurne and Green Planet have 3 matchpoints, Valencia, with just a small chance, 2 points.
BC Deurne meets Green Planet in the last match, tomorrow. The Belgians won against Wiener Billard Assoziation and played 4-4 against Valencia. Davy van Havere missed the winning point for 5-3 against Dave Christiani by a millimetre (40-39 in 23).
All the players in the Athens group
The Danish team in Bottrop with the star players Michael Nilsson and Brian Hansen
The Goeie Queue team, in sunny Paiporta, lost the important match against Cetsi Morangis