3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM - The ambiance felt as if the Battle of the Agipi Masters was fought in the final match between the two grand masters of the famous Agipi champion. Frédéric Caudron and Marco Zanetti faced each other in the ultimate and decisive match of the tournament.
Two giants, one winner: Marco Zanetti. After a tournament in which all major players in the world competed for the trophy. The Italian, double world champion in his career, stole the show at the closing gala.
He enriched his list with a trophy, which he chased for years and for which the proud Agipi boss Claude Fath had waited so long. The Dutchman Dick Jaspers (twice), the Swede Torbjörn Blomdahl (also twice) and the Korean Sung Won Choi were already on the honor roll.
Marco Zanetti may write his name in golden letters on the trophy.
The illustrious duo in the final, both celebrated leaders in the most successful three cushion team in the world, could not entertain the crowded stands with a world class party. Marco Zanetti explained: ,,The tension was very high, but we were also very tired after the previous matches.’’
Frédéric Caudron: ,,I missed the great form this weekend. And also I got a lot of bad positions. That’s one of the reasons I couldn’t make high runs.’’
At a crucial moment, when Zanetti led 45-40, Caudron also missed unlucky, when his cue ball passed narrowly the red and yellow. His opponent got a nice position and finished with five.
Marco Zanetti engaged the crowd in the arena in his joy. He first walked to Caudron, whispered some nice words in his ear and then hurried to the Kozoom cameras to thank his fans. ,,I did it for my Italian friends, but actually I thanked all the people who support me.''
The final round with eight players decreased the averages, which were much higher in the preliminary rounds. Kyung-Roul Kim, who did not qualify for the final weekend, ended up with the best: 2.313.
After the ceremony Claude Fath announced that there will be a seventh edition of the Masters next year. He could not tell with how many players, but expected between thirty and forty participants.
,,And after my friend Marco Zanetti, I hope that Frédéric Caudron will win the tournament next year,'' he joked.
On the final day of the tournament, before the last match, the other players met each other for the ranking.
Dick Jaspers, the two-time winner, finished third after a victory against Jae Ho Cho (50-30 in 24). Tayfun Tasdemir defeated Dani Sánchez for fifth place 50-47 in 27 innings with a 14-run in the first inning. Martin Horn was seventh after a splendid victory against Lütfi Cenet (50-21 in 27).
Over the whole tournament Frédéric Caudron was the player with the highest run (20). Kyung-Roul Kim recorded the highest average, Dani Sánchez played the best match: 3.571 average.
The most spectacular match was the duel in the final qualifying round between Dick Jaspers and Frédéric Caudron. The Dutchman was leading 44-7, but was defeated in the end rush by a masterful final sprint of Caudron.
The top ten of the rankings (averages, runs):
1 Marco Zanetti 1.915-16
2 Frédéric Caudron 2.166-20
3 Dick Jaspers 1.944-11
4 Jae Ho Cho 1.815-12
5 Tayfun Tasdemir 1.929-14
6 Dani Sánchez 2.090-11
7 Martin Horn 1.713-10
8 Lutfi Cenet 1.523-11
9 Kyung-Roul Kim 2.313-12
10 Filippos Kasidokostas 2.076-16
The top ten in prize money after the sixth edition:
1 Marco Zanetti, 24.450 euros
2 Frédéric Caudron, 13.450
3 Jae Ho Cho, 6.950
4 Dick Jaspers, 6.825
5 Dani Sánchez, 6.700
6 Tayfun Tasdemir, 6.450
7 Martin Horn, 5.825
8 Eddy Leppens, 5.575
9 Lutfi Cenet, 4.825
10 Dion Nelin, 2.800.