LA BAULE - The 21 year old Frenchman Adrien Tachoire has closed his juniors period with a victory in the French championship. In the final, played in the same arena as the World Cup in La Baule, Tachoire defeated his last rival Jean Haby on Saturday afternoon in a one-man show 30-7 in 19 innings. ,,I may say this is a wonderful title to crown my time with the juniors'', said the new champion, who lives in Annecy and had his highlight in his career so far two years ago, when he took the junior world title.
With the French championship, Tachoire says farewell to his junior years and enters the world or seniors. ,,I don't see real chances to become a professional player'', he confessed. The young Frenchman has a full time job in a sports shop.
His third French title (after one victory in a World championship and and a European title with the cadets) was never in danger in the final. Tachoire scored a run of twelve in the match against Jean Haby in the sixth inning and held on the big gap until the end, 30-7.
In the semi-finals Maxime Panaïa, the fifteen-year-European champion under 17, was a stronger opponent. The run of ten Tachoire made, was decisive for the win, 30-25 in 27 innings.
Jean Haby and Gwendal Marechal, the big favourite for the title, played a semi-final which turned out into an exciting fight. The regular match ended in 30-30 (25 innings). Haby won the shoot-out 2-1.
The final ranking of the championship:
1 Adrien Tachoire 5-10-1.085
2 Jean Haby 5-6-0.872
3 Gwendal Marechal 4-6-1.134
4 Maxime Panaïa 4-6-0.813
5 Thomas le Coat 3-1-0.676
6 Enzo Riquart 3-4-0.829
7 Benjamin Montuy 3-2-0.878
8 Nathan Duriez 3-2-0.636
9 Johan Godel 2-1-0.435
10 Jason Petit 2-0-0.535
11 Quentin Marcy 2-0-0.513
12 Cédric Vasseur 2-0-0.333.
Adrien Tachoire, farewell with a junior title in La Baule
The junior podium with Jean Haby, Adrien Tachoire, Maxime Panaïa and Gwendal Marechal