HERSTAL – The field with all known European billiard ladies, has launched the preliminary rounds at the Predator Grand Prix in Herstal, Belgium, this Friday. The European federation, under the sporting leadership of inspirational women's promoter Eva Viding Bussel, started the event on the first day with two sessions in each of six groups. Among the 24 players from the well-known billiard countries, eight are still unbeaten. The six groups will battle it out today, Saturday, for eight places in the quarter-finals: six group winners and the two best runners-up.
The main contenders come from the top of the rankings with Therese Klompenhouwer, Gülsen Degener, Güzin Mujde Karakasli, Charlotte Sörensen, Estela Cardoso and Karina Jetten. The leading players with four match points after two rounds in each group are Therese Klompenhouwer (4, 1.041), Gülsen Degener (4, 0.480), Güzin Mujde Karakasli (4, 0.617), Charlotte Sörensen (4, 0.694) and Karina Jetten (4, 0.666). The most tension is in Group E with four players each 2 match points led by Estela Cardoso and Nanna Petersen.
Best games so far came from Therese Klompenhouwer, who beat Belgium's Danielle le Bruyn 25-13 in 17 (1.470 on average) and Estela Cardoso, who won against Marie-Rose Rouffa 25-11 in 27 (0.925). Highest runs so far: Karolien Matthys, Nanna Petersen and Marie-Rose Rouffa with 6.
They are not only the familiar names that appear in the Herstal arena. The CEB has also invited players who are somewhat less in the picture during the major tournaments, such as Sephanie Lenz, Marie-Rose Rouffa, Andrea Hofman, Petra Lips-Versluis and Ipek Koyuncuoglu. The tournament series of Grand Prix tournaments aims, among other things, to break through new talents in European women's three cushion.
Today, from 9.30am, the decisive matches are scheduled to include Therese Klompenhouwer-Magali Declunder, Gülsen Degener-Monique van Exter, Güzin Mujde Karakasli, Charlotte Sörensen-Irena Michalkova, Karina Jetten-Jaimie Buelens and Estela Cardoso-Nanna Petersen.
The quarter-finals are today at 6pm, semi-finals Sunday at 10am and 12pm, finals at 4pm.
The standings after two rounds of play in each group:
Group A:
Therese Klompenhouwer 4-1.041-4
Magali Declunder 4-0.470-3
Danielle le Bruyn 0-0.522-3
Ipek Koyungcuoglu 0-0.432-3
Group B:
Gülsen Degener 4-0.480-5
Monique van Exter 2-0.607-4
Katja Titze 2-0.476-3
Karolien Matthys 0-0.365-6
Group C:
Güzin Mujde Karakasli 4-0.617-2
Helga Mitterböck 4-0.370-4
Ana Juarez 0-0.473-4
Petra Lips 0-0.244-3
Group D:
Charlotte Sörensen 4-0.694-5
Irena Michalkova 4-0.505-5
Sylvia Eckel 0.0450-3
Monika Steinberger 0-0.269-3
Group E:
Estela Cardoso 2-0.737-3
Nanna Petersen 2-0.656-6
Marie-Rose Rouffa 2-0.590-6
Steffi Träm 2-0.507-3
Group F:
Karina Jetten 4-0.666-4
Andrea Hofman 2-0.506-3
Jaimie Buelens 2-0.402-4
Stephanie Lenz 0-0.305-3
