3-Cushion
ASTORGA - The Spanish player Javier Palazón has won the Grand Prix Astorga, with all the Spanish star players, in a briljant final match. The Paiporta top gun blow over Astorga and defeated his teammate Antonio Montes with a big score: 40-14 in 15 innings. Dani Sánchez and Xavier Yeste completed the podium.
Antonio Montes played his first final in the Grand Prix Astorga after he already has been on the podium in Llinars del Valles. Javier Palazón was the experienced player in the battle for gold. With a 18-12 in 13 on the scoreboard, Palazón launched his attack with a superb 12-run (30-12). In only 15 innings, after a two and an eight in the two last innings, the Paiporta player reached the finish, giving Montes no chance for a comeback: 40-14 in 15.
On the final day, the two matches in the semi-finals were decided by a little margin. Antonio Montes, former European junior champion, managed to beat the reigning world champion Dani Sánchez 40-37 in 24 innings. The Spanish number one first looked a gap of ten caroms, but took a small lead towards the end: 32-31. Montes, a few innings later, closed the match with his third matchball.
Javier Palazón dominated at the start against Xavier Yeste: 20-10 and 25-11 in twelve innings. Ten innings later, the match balanced at 30-29. Javi Palazón attacked again (37-29) and reached the finish line at 40-36 in 28. Yeste scored three times in the equalizer, but missed the tying point (40-39).
The final ranking at the Astorga GP:
1 Javier Palazón, 1.835
2 Antonio Montes, 1.289
3 Dani Sánchez, 1.554
3 Xavier Yeste, 1.303
5 Jaime Faraco, 1.132
6 Alfonso Legazpi, 1.076
7 Jezus Jimenez, 1.010
8 Enrique Peñalva, 1.123.
The stage in the GP Astorga with Javier Palazón (second left), Antonio Montes (left), Xavier Yeste and Dani Sánchez