3-Cushion
ASTORGA - The Spanish super champion Dani Sánchez has won a new national three-cushion title in Astorga. It was the 22nd in his unrivaled career. The title was won after a memorable display, which gave Sánchez an average of 2,247 over five games, the second-best result in the Spanish championship. The champion played his best match in the final. There, Sánchez beat his friend Robinson Morales, the Colombian star who also holds a Spanish passport, 40-22 in 14 innings. On the podium were the numbers three and four Rubén Fernández and Juan Carlos Pareras.
The final stage started for the champion with a 1/16 final victory over José Javier Gimeno (40-2 in 17). In the eighth finals he overcame Gómez Bravo (40-29 in 18) and in the quarterfinals José María Más (40-9 in 18). Sánchez then settled with Rubén Fernández (40-16 in 22) in the semi-finals.
Robinson Morales averaged 1,569 in the nine-match stretch, including a nice victory over Ruben Legazpi in the quarter finals. Legazpi was one of the other favorites in this championship, judging by the Madrileen's final average of 1.966 and the best run of the tournament (16).
Other notable players were medallists Rubén Fernández and Juan Carlos Pareras, who is having his best season in three-cushion. A strong tournament also for Valentín Andaluz Antón (1,328) and the young players of the new generation: Marcos Morales (7th), Arturo Zotov (12th) and Daniel Saíz-Pardo (16th). The national ranking after the event in Astorga is led by Rubén Legazpi, followed by Sergio Jiménez and Jaime Sánchez Faraco.
171 players (record) took part in the nine-day championship.
The final podium with the winner Dani Sánchez
