Carom
BRANDENBURG - The sixfold European champion one cushion, Jean Paul de Bruijn has started the tournament in his favorite discipline with a loss. Torbjörn Blomdahl, which debuts in this discipline, won his match (6 innings) and set a blistering pace.
In the preliminary rounds will be played in eight groups of three for eight places in the quarter finals.
Torbjörn Blomdahl gives the impression that he mainly wants to enjoy his performance, in which he once (35 years ago) played in the Swedish championship.
,,I have absolutely no idea what to expect'', said the Swedish number one in the world in three cushion before the launch. After his victory (120-46 in 8 innings) against the Spaniard Esteve Mata he was a little more clear.
,,I practice occasionally one cushion in recent years and made two runs of 105 in recent weeks. My highest run is 107 now. I think, if the balls are rolling well, I can do a match in one inning, but I think all the players in this championship are able to do that.''
For Blomdahl the EC is mainly a test: he likes to know if he can compete with the specialists in this discipline such as Frédéric Caudron, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Xavier Gretillat and maybe Peter De Backer. The Belgian recorded the best game so far: he won in six innings against Jose Albert.
Caudron, the title holder, started the tournament in eight innings against Gerassimopoulos. Jean Paul de Bruijn, who lost against the Czech Marek Faus 120-50 in 5 innings, must win his second match in the group in ten innings, if he plays more innings, he is outplayed. His opponent is Jacky Justice.
Xavier Gretillat defeated Paulo Andrade, who later also had no chance against Bernard Baudoin. Alain Remond had not the best start in 22 innings, however he won his match and now has to battle with Wolfgang Zenkner for a place in the quarterfinales.