BLOIS – Young German Amir Ibraimov was the best starter in the Grand Prix for players under 21, which is played in Blois, France. With a victory over Dutchman Gilano Vloedmans in 10 innings (25-6, highest run 13), Ibraimov leads the rankings. In the preliminary rounds, four groups compete, with the top two qualifying for the next round. The tournament, called the Longoni Next Gen Grand Prix of the CEB, is played in Blois, where a major international tournament with the world's top players will be held at the end of this year.
Amir Ibraimov is one of the big contenders in the field of 21 players. In the overall standings of the preliminary rounds, the German leads with 6 match points and 1,190 ahead of Frenchman Tangui Duriez, Spaniard Daniel Sainz Pardo, and Dutchman Luca Philipoom. Other contenders are Marcos Morales, Joris van 't Zelfden, and Selahattin Ozkul.
Six players have averages over 1 after the first day: Amir Ibraimov with 1,190, Marcos Morales with 1,190, Tangui Duriez with 1,136, Daniel Sainz Pardo, Joris van 't Zelfden, and Selahattin Ozkul, all three 1,000.
The leaders in the four groups after the first day are Amir Ibraimov, Tangui Duriez, Daniel Sainz-Pardo, and Luca Philipoom. The Dutch started with five players: Luca Philipoom, Joris van 't Zelfden, Gilano Vloedmans, Joeri Wilkowski, and Jayden van Buren. The Belgians are playing with Toon Bollansee and Thomas Verhulst.
Luca Philipoom won his first two matches against Gilano Vloedmans and Noah David and drew his third match on Friday evening against Daniel Kristiansen 25-25 in 24. Joris van 't Zelfden beat Paolo Turla 25-4 in 21 and Toon Bollansee 25-16 in 29.
The best match after Amir Ibraimov's 10-innings victory (13 to the finish) came from Tangui Duriez, who defeated Paolo Turla 25-10 in 14 innings.
Two young Dutch players started against each other: Joeri Wilkowski defeated Jayden van Buren 25-20 in 33 innings.
All matches live on Kozoom
Early Saturday morning matches include:
Amir Ibraimov-Mio Svensson
Daniel Sainz-Pardo-Joeri Wilkowski
Selahattin Ozkul-Jayden van Buren
Luca Philipoom-Marcos Morales
Joris van 't Zelfden-Quentin Watbled.
Poule A:
Marcos Morales
Daniel Kristiansen
Luca Philipoom
Noah David
Gilano Vloedmans
Poule B:
Daniel Sainz-Pardo
Selahattin Ozkul
Goncalos Santos
Joeri Wilkowski
Jayden van Buren
Poule C:
Tangui Duriez
Joris van ’t Zelfden
Toon Bollansee
Quentin Watbled
Paolo Turla
Poule D:
Mustafa oguz Ceylan
Amir Ibraimov
Noa Thiaudiere
Mio Svensson
Lorenzo Fior
Thomas Verhulst.
