ANKARA - The European artistic billiards title remains in Turkey. Turkey's Baris Cin became European champion this Friday afternoon at the Turkish federation's billiard centre after his victory over Frenchman Michael Hammen. The podium was completed by outgoing champion Haci arap Yaman and Spaniard Sergio Sanchez. Jop de Jong, playing for the Netherlands, finished fifth in the final ranking.
Baris Cin and French favorite Michael Hammen remained in balance for a long time in the final match, but in the end the Turk grabbed the title: 186-180 in the score with 61.184 per cent for Cin and 57.324 for Hammen. The Turks had two players on the podium, as reigning champion Haci arap Yaman also played an important role in the final stage.
Frenchman Michael Hammen was one of the big favorites after his performance in the preliminary stage. Among others, he shone in the quarter finals against Dutchman Jop de Jong with a high score. Hammen eliminated De Jong after a superb fight: 206-199 in the score and percentages of 80.784 against 75.094. Jop de Jong thereby stepped out of the tournament as one of the standouts.
The other winners in the quarter-finals were Haci arap Yaman against Olivier Lacroix (179-133), Sergio Sanchez against Marvin Heinrich (158 against 129) and Baris Cin, the later winner, against Ken Dahlke by 157-114.
In the semi-finals, Michael Hammen knocked the then reigning champion Haci arap Yaman off his throne with 174-120. And again the Frenchman was very strong with 81.308 per cent. Baris Cin did with a lesser score, but won his match against Sergio Sanchez 150-113 (64.377 against 48.497). The final amid Turkish fans ended in another Turkish final victory: Baris Cin is the new champion.
The European individual championship is followed by the nations team championship, held for the second time. The first European for teams was in Antalya in April 2023. The playing days for the European Championship now in Ankara are Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10, also at the centre of the Turkish federation.
The field of participants consists of 12 teams of two players divided into four groups of three teams. These will play against each other in the preliminary round. After the group phase, only the number 3 teams will drop out. The remaining eight teams advance to the knockout phase for the quarter-finals.
Playing for Turkey are Cin Baris, the new European champion, and Haci arap Yaman, the outgoing champion. The Netherlands will play with Jop de Jong and René Dericks, the Belgians will enter with Erik van den Zegel and Erik Vervliet.
The Netherlands will play the first game Saturday morning at 8.00 am West European time.
The individual final standings:
- Baris Cin, Turkije, 12 match points, 68.409 (bestt match 93.710)
- Michael Hammen 10-72.026
- Haci arap Yaman 8-67.041
- Sergio Sanchez 8-62.537
- Jop de Jong 4-70.153
- Olivier Lacroix 4-59.630
- Marvin Heinrich 4-62.187
- Ken Dahlke 4-54.383.