Carom Series
RONCHIN - The four finalists at the European championship classic games for teams are known: the German team of Bochum advanced at last for the final rounds tonight in Ronchin thanks to a draw against Chartres (3-3).
The other three finalists are Etikon, the title holder, Sueca from Spain and the home team Ronchin. These four meet tomorrow, Sunday, in the semi-finals.
The almost untouchable Etikon team, chasing for its fifth title, made two unexpected missteps on its way to the finals. Patrick Niessen was defeated in his duel with Sueca by an excellent Raul Cuenca, who closed the match in 71/2 with a run of 176 (200-187 in 4).
Niessen repaired later and won his balk-line match against his country man Peter De Backer 500-42 in five innings.
Henri Tilleman also lost one of his rare matches at European level. The Dutchman, record holder titles in his country, performs in the 47/2 for Etikon and was beaten by Andernos player Nicolas Gerassimopoulos 250-188 in five innings. Jean Paul de Bruijn secured two victories for Etikon in one cushion, in his first match he beat Dave Christiani in 5 innings, in his second the Dutch champion defeated Bernard Baudoin 120-79 in 9.
Still, the Etikon team was the only which recorded two wins in the preliminaries. Sueca may show up in the finals thanks to a 4-2 victory over Andernos.
The French team of Ronchin started with an important 4-2 victory over Chartres and tied in its last match against Bochum. Bernard Villiers remained unbeaten in his two matches. In the encounter with the Germans he defeated Fabian Blondeel 120-109 in thirteen innings. Ludger Havlik and Willy Gérimont played a draw in 47/2.