Sayginer winner in super final: 5.000 average

BALIKESIR - In the Turkish city of Balikesir, the third Grand Prix was played this week for the Turkish ranking. Semih Sayginer was the glorious winner in a final against Murat Naci Coklu. Semih played a marvellous final: 40-16 in 8 innings (11-4-4-2-6-1-4-8). After three of four Grand Prix tournaments, Sayginer is the leader in the ranking with 254 points ahead of Tayfun Tasdemir, Murat Naci Coklu, Murat Celik and Savas Bulut.

The fourth and final Grand Prix, decisive for the Turkish title, will be played at the end of December. Semih Sayginer is already unreachable for the competition with a 92-point lead over Tasdemir. The most recent tournament was played at the Avlu Sports Center theater with 432 players at the start. Gülsen Degener won the tournament for ladies. The theater hall was World Cup worthy, partly thanks to the efforts of Turkish president Ersan Ercan.

Semih Sayginer was not the only player one with a record match. Lütfi Cenet, who was sixth after a loss against Coklu in the 16th finals (40-36 in 19), played a 40-point in 8 match against Gökhan Salman. Cenet started off with 14 in the eighth finale to beat Salman 40-10.

On the podium were Semih Sayginer, Murat Naci Coklu, Can Capak and Adnan Yüksel. Sayginer defeated Yüksel in the semi-final 40-30 in 20, Coklu defeated Capak 40-32 in 21. Sayginer was also the best winner in the quarters against Emrullah Basegmez: 40-19 in 18. Coklu beat Cenet, Capak defeated Bakirci and Yüksel bested Güngor.

Well-known players as Birol Uymaz, Ömer Karakurt, Savas Bulut, Murat Tüzül and Tolgahan Kiraz were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

The ranking after three of four Grand Prix tournaments:
1 Semih Sayginer 254-1.843-14
2 Tayfun Tasdemir 162-1.784-12
3 Murat Naci Coklu 160-1.820-11
4 Murat Celik 152-1.452-9
5 Savas Bulut 132-1253-7
6 Lütfi Cenet 114-1.724-15
7 Savas Güngör 108-1.183-7
8 Can Capak 96-1.405-8
9 Adnan Yüksel 96-1.400-11
10 Muharrem Peker 92-1.328-8
11 Turgay Orak 90-1.117-6
12 Tolgahan Kiraz 80-1.370-9
13 Murat Tüzül 80-1.282-14
14 Ahmet Közeoglu 80-1.107-11
15 Mehmet Aksoy 78 1.196-10
16 Emrullah Basegmez 70-1.000-7.

Semih Sayginer on top of the podium

The two finalists: Semih Sayginer (r) and Murat Naci Coklu (l)

Gülsen Degener won the ladies tournament

Turkish president Ersan Ercan