Balk-Line 71/2
ANDERNOS - The first blows on the opening day of the Classic Race in the balk-line 71/2 at the Kozoom studios in Andernos were dealt by three Dutchmen and one German. The four victims in the field of eight players all come from the homeland France. Dutch players Michel van Silfhout and Raymund Swertz made the strongest start with victories over Brahim Djoubri and Johann Petit. Dave Christiani beat the third Frenchman Jean Francois Florent, the German Sven Daske was the better of Willy Gérimont, the winner of the first Classic Race in the 47/2 discipline in March this year.
The format is like in the previous tournament according to the double knock-out system, so one loss does not mean the elimination. The four Frenchmen get (and got) a second chance. Johann Petit and Jean Francois Florent already played each other in the late evening match of the first day: Petit won, Florent is out of the tournament with two losses on the first day.
The Dutch success did not fall out of the warm French air. In the wonderful town at the Bay of Archachon, on the southwest coast of France, the European champion Raymund Swertz is one of the main contenders for victory. German Sven Daske (losing finalist at the last European championship), Michel van Silfhout and Dave Christiani are also feared opponents for the Frenchmen Gérimont, Petit, Djoubri and Florent.
Raymund Swertz opened the first of three match days against Johann Petit today. ''He started like a rocket, I was in trouble to keep up with him and to get into my rhythm'', the Dutchman said later. The match, as all matches are played over one hour at two different tables, was in balance until the final part, in which it was very exciting until 183-177. Then, Petit made a capital mistake on the way to victory: a restez-dance in a brilliant position. Swertz, in his seventh inning (against 15 innings for Petit) took advantage and finished 219 points against Petit 199.
Dave Christiani was in the next session the winner against Jean Francois Florent 174-156, both in ten innings, so that two Dutchmen, Swertz and Christiani, already play each other tomorrow, Saturday. Michel van Silfhout was the best in average against his opponent, who started with an off-day. Briham Djoubri used no less than 18 innings (so with 17 misses), of which he missed 13 times from the break. Van Silfhout finished like Swertz with 219 points, Djoubri with 134.
Sven Daske faced one of the best French balk-line players: Willy Gérimont. The last match of the first round was the weakest: Daske won 131-116, the German in 13 innings, the Frenchman in 16.
The best run on this day came from Michel van Silfhout with 84 followed by Raymund Swertz with 80. Michel van Silfhout also had the best average: Van Silfhout 36,50, Swertz 31,29.
The scores in the first round (points, innings, average, series):
Match 1:
Raymund Swertz 219-7-31,29-8-.
Johann Petit 199-15-13,26-62
Match 2:
Dave Christiani 174-10-17,40-49
Jean Francois Florent 156-10-15,60-55
Match 3:
Michel van Silfhout 219-6-36,50-84
Brahim Djoubri 134-18-7,44-50
Match 4:
Sven Daske 131-13-10,08-38
Willy Gérimont 116-16-7,25-36.
Matches start tomorrow, Saturday, from 12.00. Raymund Swertz and Dave Christiani meet each other at 14.00, after that Michel van Silfhout plays at 16.00.
Raymund Swertz is playing his countryman Dave Christiani