Carom Series
On three places (Elda, Prague and Bochum) the preliminary rounds for the European championship in the classic games for teams willl be played on Saturday and Sunday (February 5 and 4). The Dutch team Cubri Etikon with Henry Tilleman, Patrick Niessen and Jean Paul de Bruijn is the defending champion and is seeded automatically. The other finalist of last year, Your Event Live, has not signed up for this year's final.
Frédéric Caudron is one of the most prominent players in the qualifying rounds. The Belgian, who is champion for his country in two of three disciplines in this tournament, will not play for his team of Frans Bevers this weekend in the Dutch three cushion league. He performs for Centelles, last year's semi-finalist, the team that is divided in the preliminaries in Bochum. Other famous classic players this weekend are Pierre Soumagne, Xavier Gretillat, Fabian Blondeel, Marek Faus, Peter de Backer, Wolfgang Zenkner and Bernard Baudoin.
The three groups performing in Elda (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic) and Bochum (Germany). The winners of the groups and two best runners-up qualify for the finals from 16 to 18 March in Hoogeveen (Netherlands). There, the final group of five will be completed with Cubri Etikon.
The groups in the preliminary rounds are:
GROUP A (Elda, Spain):
Alzira (Sp): Jose Garcia Poveda, Albert José Tornero, Alvaro Gomez (res. Carlos Casanova, Rubion Alfredo, Jose Nadal, Jose Palacio).
Soissons (Fr): Alain Remond, Pierre Soumagne, Patrick Dupont (res. Jean-Paul Boudoux).
Oissel (Fr): Johann Petit, David Jacquet, Arnim Kahofer (Res. Fabio Vendittelli).
Autriche: Geropld Cerovsek, Gerhard Huber, Gerhard Ralis.
GROUP B (Prague, Czech Republic):
Prague (Tsj): Marek Faus, Janis Ziogas, Pavel Böhm (res. Miroslav Baca, Adam Baca, Milan Racek)
Coral Colon (Sp): Joan Espinasa, Jordi Gaso, Manuel Gonzalez (res. Jose Maria Mas, Jaume Andreu, Rafael Moya, Daniel Sánchez, Pere Homet.
Andernos (Fr): Bernard Baudoin, Nicolas Gerassimopoulos, Peter de Backer (res. Jeremie Picart, Francis Connesson).
Weitmar (Ger): Markus Melerski, Jörg Morawski, Wolfgang Zenkner (res. Dieter Chober, Carsten Krane).
GROUP C (Bochum, Germany):
Bochum (Germany): Fabian Blondeel, Ludger Havlik, Thomas Nockermann (res. Pöther Christian, Paul Kimme Camp).
Centelles (Sp): Raul Cuenca, Jordi Garriga, Frédéric Caudron, Manuel Bancells (Res. Esteve Mata).
Ronchin (Fr): Brahim Djoubri, Jean-François Florent, Bernard Villiers (Res. Pascal Dessaint).
Suisse: Xavier Gretillat, Simon Dellenbach, Sotiris Psiskonis (Res. Michael Voegtlin).
The matches in the group of Bochum can be followed live on Kozoom for Premium pass holders.