3-Cushion
ANDERNOS - Ten hours of matches in Group B of the Kozoom Challenge Cup await the loyal viewers from today (Tuesday) onwards. The 7th group will be played from Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 May according to the formula that surely will be known to everyone now. Three days of competition with daily 8 sets of 10 points from 17.00 to around 20.00. Then the seventh finalist will also be known for the final with 8 in September.
This week, the Italian maestro and two-time world champion Marco Zanetti, number 2 in the world, seems to be the player right on track in the encounter with Spaniard Antonio Montes, number 31 in the world, and Austrian Arnim Kahofer, number 37 in the world.
Arnim Kahofer, the outsider, owes his place in the world's top 40 to his ranking points for the national title (30) and the 12 points from the World Championships in Randers. The Austrian arrived in Bordeaux without luggage on Monday. ''Fortunately, I could pick up my suitcase at the airport on Tuesday morning, that allowed me to practice some hours. Because of the COVID situation, I haven't been able to play any matches for 15 months. I used that time to make some changes in my game and my technique, hopefully it will will work out well.''
Marco Zanetti played one of his last tournaments in the Duke Challenge in Holland where he was in the final against Dick Jaspers. The Korean tournaments in July don't attract him because of the COVID situation and the quarantine. Last week, instead of Torbjörn Blomdahl who was playing himself, Marco was one of the commentators for Kozoom.
Antonio Montes also played at the Duke and was showing up in the Spanish team league this weekend, where he played for the Vic team and secured a victory over Javier Palazón 40-23 in 19 innings.
Here are the results of the three players in recent years:
Marco Zanetti (59):
Average in 2018: 1,680 over 41 official games
Average 2019: 1,971 in 52 matches
Average since 2020: 1,658 over 11 matches.
Antonio Montes (28):
Average 2018: 1,417 over 24 matches
Average 2019: 1,383 over 46 matches
Average since 2020: 1,137 over 4 games
Arnim Kahofer (46):
Average 2018: 1,047 over 21 games.
Average 2019: 1,181 over 42 matches
Average since 2020: 1,196 over 12 games
These three players show up in the wonderful Kozoom arena for three days live for Premium subscribers, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm.
Arnim Kahofer, the outsider to win the group after long time without matches
