Free game
BOCHUM - Young German Simon Blondeel has started off the European championship free game for players under 17 as the main contender for the title. The tournament is played this weekend in Bochum, Germany and organized by 1968 BC Elfenbein Höntrop. Frenchman Pierre Martory and Germany's Lukas Blondeel are the leaders in Group with four match points, the Frenchman played one match less.
Simon Blondeel, the public face so far, tops Group B ahead of Dutchman Jordy Jong. The German won two matches and played one draw. Jordy Jong showed up in two matches so far and won both.
The tournament is played with ten players, divided into two groups of five. Today, on the opening, three rounds were completed. Simon Blondeel pitched himself right into the battle for the overall win and was the most impressive of the field with matches over 150 caroms in 2, 2 and 4 innings. His last match, a German clash with Michael Range, ended up in 150-150 in four innings, allowing Range to climb to third position in that group.
Jordy Jong, the other contender in this group, had a difficult start against Belgian Gerome Dieu (150-43 in seven innings), but duly took his second win against Michael Ramge in only two innings with a highest run of 114.
Simon Blondeel is on top of his group with an average of 56.25. Pierre Martory and Lukas Blondeel are the leaders in Group A, where Hans Snellen, Andres Henriksen and Stef van Hees have two match points. Pierre Martory, Lukas Blondeel and Hans Snellen shone with matches in one inning.
The European president Wolfgang Rittmann during the opening ceremony of the tournament.
The ranking after three rounds (matches played, match points, average, highest runs):
Group A:
1 Pierre Martory (France) 2-4-27.27-150
2 Lukas Blondeel (Germany) 3-4-22.78-150
3 Hans Snellen (Netherlands) 3-2-25.58-150
4 Andres Henriksen (Denmark) 3-2-20.72-84
5 Stef van Hees (Belgium) 2-2-14.77-41.
Group B:
1 Simon Blondeel (Germany) 3-5-56.25-149
2 Jordy Jong (Netherlands) 2-4-33.33-114
3 Michael Ramge (Germany) 2-2-29.83-67
4 Gerome Dieu (Belgium) 2-2-15.30-95
5 Jason Petit (France) 2-0-21.33-88.