3-Cushion
VIENNA - The best European three cushion teams compete at four different venues this weekend to qualify for the European Cup. Many world class players, such as Frédéric Caudron, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Eddy Merckx, Marco Zanetti, Dick Jaspers, Filippos Kasidokostas and Dani Sánchez, will appear to the billiards on Saturday (26th) and Sunday (April 27).
The Turkey's top team Bahcelievler, with Tayfun Tasdemir Lütfi Cenet, Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel, last year the title winner in the Agipi arena, is exempt from playing preliminaries. The defending champion hosts the final round in Istanbul from 6 to 8 June.
The Viennese organization of one of four groups has launched a nice media campaign in the run-up to the tournament. The magic number 'three' is central to the strategy. BSK Union is one of five teams in the group with famous opponents as BC Deurne, Etasis from Turkey, Bristol Odense and Futbol Clube de Porto.
The playing venue is Billards center Florisdorf.
THREE:
Of the top five players in the world, three top guns will show up in Vienna: Torbjörn Blomdahl (2nd), Eddy Merckx (4th) and Dick Jaspers (5th).
THREE:
Three world record holders to take action: Blomdahl has the record overall average, Merckx is the owner of the best game to 50 points and Jaspers average in set system.
THREE:
Three cushion is the name of the game type.
THREE:
Three balls are in play
THREE:
Three days of world-class billiards in Vienna (including the day of welcome to Friday).
Furthermore, reports the press release a brief background on the current situation of billiards promotion in Austria:
The Austrian pole team won the medal ranking at the European championship in Cyprus two weeks ago (4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze).
It was widely reported in the Austrian media.
On Easter Sunday, pool player Jasmin Ouschan was invited for most important sports show on the TV channel, to talk about her sport. They announced the tournament in Vienna, culminating billiard year in Vienna.
Andreas Kronlachner, one of the best players in Austria, wrote in his invitation to the press conference where media and sponsors are expected:
,,We have created the perfect conditions for a successful tournament with a lot of media attention. The tournament will show the magic and beauty of our sport, coupled with the team spirit shown to a wide audience.''
,,We will have the biggest local television station (ORF - Österreichischer Rundfunk) on stage on Sunday doing player interviews and covering the matches Blomdahl - Bulut and Horn - Jaspers.''
The group format at four locations:
Group Vienna (Austria): BSK Union, BC Deurne, Etasis Turkey, Bristol Odense, Futbol Clube de Porto.
Group Bronshoj (Denmark): BK Grondal, Agipi, Elite club Vienna, Mecidiyelsoy
Group Sabadell (Spain): Coral Colon, La Biglia Modica, BCC Witten, Billard Club Zürich, BC Andernos.
Group Bottrop (Germany): Bottroper BA, Leca Fute Bol club Portugal, GTB Alcantrilla, Sport Club Jacono, Italy, Academie Lausanne de Billard.
The 19 teams and their most known players:
1 BCC Witten (Ger) with Eddy Leppens, Stefan Galla en Ronny Lindemann.
2 Bottroper BA (G) Christian Rudolph, Dave van Geel.
3 Futebol Clube de Porto (Por) Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dani Sánchez, Jorge Alipio, Rui Costa.
4 Billar Alcantarilla (Sp) Ruben Legazpi, Peter Ceulemans.
5 Coral Colan (Sp) Nikos Polychronopoulos, Sergio Jimenez, Carlos Crespo, Jose Maria Mas.
6 BSK Union Wien (Aus) Martin Horn, Andreas Efler, Andreas Kronlachner.
7 Billard Club Zürich (Sw) Rene Hendriksen, Torsten Danielsson.
8 BC Elite Wien (Aus) Gerhard Kostistansky, Andreas Horvath.
9 Academie Lausannoise (Sw) Michel Boulaz, Trinh Khai Ha.
10 Agipi (Fr) Frédéric Caudron, Marco Zanetti, Jérémy Bury, Jean-Christophe Roux.
11 Billard Club Andernos (Fr) Filippos Kasidokostas, Roland Forthomme, Jérôme Barbeillon.
12 BK Gröndal (Den) Dion Nelin, Tonny Carlsen, Michael Lohse, Lars Dunch.
13 Bristol Odense (Den) Michael Nilsson, Allan Schröder.
14 Leca Futebol Clube (Por) Jef Philipoom, Jose Biscaia.
15 Sporting club 2000, Battiati (It) Alfio Basile, Andrea Bitteti.
16 La Biglia Modica (It) Salvatore Papa, Fabrizio Corese.
17 Etasis Billard Sports club (Tur) Savas Bulut, Ahmet Alp, Murat Celik.
18 Mecidiyelsöy Sports Club (Tur) Can Capak, Selim Ozden, Mehmet Goren en Birol Uymaz.
19 BC Deurne (Bel) Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Davy van Havere en Ludo Dielis.