BRANDENBURG AN DER HAVEL - The 21 year old Turk Berkay Karakurt is the new European junior champion three-cushion and the young talents of DBC Bochum took the title for club teams. For Karakurt it was a very emotional moment to take the title. He succeeds his two years older brother Omar, who won the European title two years ago.
The final was a match between the two stars of the preliminaries: Berkay Karakurt and the Frenchman Matthieu Franck, who defeated his countryman Gwendal Marechal in the semifinals with the best average: 30-11 in 23 innings (1.304). Karakurt needed a tough fight against Joao Ferreira from Portugal to qualify for the final: 30-28 in 36 innings.
The new champion was the best in the qualifications (1.339). He was not satisfied about the final match, but stated that he felt very nervous. ,,I could take the title for the first time and moreover it was my last chance as a junior'', Karakurt explained.
The Frenchman Matthieu Franck, playing for Laxou, either could not score at the start and then felt far behind on the halfway point. However, he is for the third time on the podium of a European championship after two third places in free game when Adrien Tachoire and Antonio Montes were the winners.
The Turkish broters Berkay and Omar Karakurt and Tayfun Tasdemir as translater interviewd by Kozoom
The young Germans Simon and Lukas Blondeel and Tobias Bouerdiek took the title in free game for club teams in the final against BC Osselien. Simon Blondeel won his match against Pierre Martory 300-11 in 2 turns, Lukas Blondeel bested Sebastien Verel 300-111 in seven and Tobias Bouerdiek completed the success by beating Guillaume Julliat (210-39 in 6).
In the match for third place between two Dutch teams Horna defeated JBV Amorti 4-2. Ferry Jong against Hans Snellen jr (300-98 in four) and Jordy Jong against Bryan Eelen (300-22 in 5) took the wins for Horna. The Belgian Stef van Hees, who made a strong impression, defeated Sam van Etten 300-154 in one inning.
The broters Simon (middle) and Lukas Blondeel (right) and Tobias Bouerdiek (left) took the title for club teams.