3-Cushion
ANDERNOS - The sixth preliminary round of the Kozoom Challenge Cup finished with a resounding surprise. The young Frenchman Gwendal Maréchal (23) qualified for the final tournament in a battle with the world champion Torbjörn Blomdahl: he led the ranking after 24 sessions with 12 sets won ahead of Blomdahl with 7 and German Ronny Lindemann with 5 sets. Maréchal also finished with the best average: 1,688 followed by Blomdahl with 1,606 and Ronny Lindemann with 1,178.
The supremacy of the young Frenchman in the second session on his way to the final day, which he ended with a 9-5 lead, was no coincidence at all. Maréchal maintained his leading position and stayed ahead of Blomdahl with five sets difference in the final ranking. With two wins in the first and third set on the final day, Maréchal already secured his place in the final. In the final part, the Frenchman also won the penultimate set with a wonderful performance in two innings.
The French lost their top player Jérémy Bury in the preliminary round in a barrage with Peter De Backer, but can be happy about the qualification of their huge promise Gwendal Maréchal. The young talent from the west coast, who still spends his days as a student, has definitely announced his breakthrough. He said before the Kozoom event that he never met Torbjörn Blomdahl, the world champion, in a direct match, but shone from the first day, in which he went 4-4 up against the Swedish world class star. He took a four-set lead on the second day of play and is five sets ahead of Blomdahl in the final standings.
The Swedish multiple world champion, who could not show his famous qualities in these three days, dcould not threaten his young opponent in the ultimate phase. The German Ronny Lindemann, who did win three sets on the final day, was already eliminated for the highest position.
Gwedanl Maréchal, a very modest and sympathetic player, was surprised and amazed by his victory. Torbjörn Blomdahl resigned himself to his demise long before the final stage. The Swede was only the strongest in the 20th and 21st sets of the 24-set match. Ronny Lindemann finally showed his qualities with a total of 5 sets won.
The set scores on the final day:
Set 17:
Maréchal 10, Lindemann 9, Blomdahl 8
Set 18:
Lindemann 10, Blomdahl 5, Maréchal 4
Set 19: Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 9, Lindemann 9
Set 20:
Blomdahl 10, Maréchal 8, Lindemann 8
Set 21:
Blomdahl 10, Lindemann 3, Maréchal 2
Set 22:
Lindemann 10, Blomdahl 9, Maréchal 6
Set 23:
Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 4, Lindemann 4
Set 24
Lindemann 10, Maréchal 6, Blomdahl 5.
The final ranking:
1 Gwendal Maréchal 12-184-109-1,688-10
2 Torbjörn Blomdahl 7-175-109-1,606-10
3 Ronny Lindemann 5-1256-107-1,178-6
The sensational winner Gwendal Maréchal