Balk-Line 71/2
RONCHIN - The selections have been done, the eight best players in the CEB Grand Prix 71/2 have survived the qualification rounds. Frédéric Caudron is the best by far and the big contender for the victory. Patrick Niessen is the second best, the other six players in the quarterfinals are dark horses.
Frédéric Caudron was the first of eight players in the quarter-finals to qualify for the semi-finals, what means that he will not show up in the BTS tournament in Lier tomorrow (Sunday). Caudron defeated Frenchman Jean Francois Florent in four innings (200-38).
Dave Christiani seemed one of the rivals for Caudron and Niessen, but the Dutchman failed in his match for the eighth final against Rafael Garcia, he lost 200-131 in 12 innings.
Frédéric Caudron was again the best player in this round with a win over Patrick Dessaint in two innings (200-19). Patrick Niessen came to the finish in five innings against Jean Godeyne, Brahim Djoubri played at the same level against Philippe Deraes (200-65).
Pavel Bohm (win against Ziogas in six innings), Marek Faus (against Alejandro Gil), Nicolas Gerassimopoulos (against Martin Ravestijn) and Jean Francois Florent were the other players for the quarter-finals, which is played tonight (Saturday).
Caudron achieved the highest average in the group matches (100.00) ahead of Patrick Niessen with 75.00 and Dave Christiani with 42.85.
The matches for the quarterfinals are:
Caudron-Florent
Gerassimopoulos-Faus
Garcia-Djoubri
Niessen-Bohm.