3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM - The Agipi Masters in Schiltigheim, the tournament which startet with 32 players and where twenty players are left now, is known as the tournament for the big money makers. The total prize money is over 100,000 euros, depending on the level there will be played. For each match won, high runs, for qualifications and high averages the players get bonuses.
The Dutchman Dick Jaspers, who won the Masters twice (2009 and 2010), over three sessions already earned a total of 78.550 euros. With two final victories, the lost final (against Torbjörn Blomdahl in 2008), a top match with an average of 3.846 (against Roland Forthomme) and runs of 22 (against Jérémy Bury) and two of twenty Jaspers is the undisputed big hitter of the Agipi.
The tournament startet this year with nine players who won one or more world titles in their career: Torbjörn Blomdahl, Daniel Sánchez, Marco Zanetti, Dick Jaspers, Filipos Kasidokostas, Ryuuji Umeda, Eddy Merckx, Fréderic Caudron and Jef Philipoom. Three of these nine players have been eliminated. Daniel Sánchez, Jef Philipoom and Ryuuji Umeda didn't survive the qualifications.
Marco Zanetti, with its 48 years the oldest player in action this weekend, and Roland Forthomme are the leader in two qualifying rounds, from which four players advance to the final round. Glenn Hofmann is the youngest by twenty years.
Martin Horn, who today celebrates his fortieth birthday, is the highest in the world ranking with his fifth place from the groups A and B, which play their matches today, tomorroww and Sunday.
This afternoon at 14.00, the B-group starts with the following matches:
Martin Horn-Tayfun Tasdemir.
Michael Nilsson-Javier Palazón.
The prize money for these three days, with twenty matches, is:
X 500 euros for a match won.
X 250 euros for a match lost.
X 375 euros for a draw.
X 450 euros for qualifying to the final round.
X 500 euros for a run of ten.
X 750 euros for a run of fifteen.
X 1000 euros for a run of twenty.
X 500 euros for a match in twenty innings or less.