Dutch party in first balk-line final

BRANDENBURG – The start of the final between two Dutchmen in the balk-line 47/2 was sensational. The young Raymund Swertz had a painful miss in his opening run of 174 and was punished immediately, but eventually the final game turned out into a Dutch party. Raymund Swertz, in his career already three times junior European champion, won 250-130 in 2 innings.

The competition in the leading up was so great, that Henri Tilleman led the table after the prelims with 100.00 average, followed by three players with the same scores. The Czech Marek Faus, the French Greek Nikolas Gerassomopoulis and the German Sven Daske recorded 83.333 after three matches.

Patrick Niessen, one of the major contenders for the title, had not survived the qualification round. The Belgian lost his match against Esteve Mata after a referee fault. When the Spaniard had missed in a run of 169 both players took a break. The referee grabbed the balls from the table and wanted to put them on the spots.

Niessen was disturbed in his concentration and felt treated unfairly. He lost the match 250-5 in 3 innings.

Daske, Gerassimopoulos and Tilleman recorded the best group matches in two innings. The performance in the quarterfinals was even more impressive: Gerassimopoulos defeated Mata in one inning (250-22), Daske dashed off Espinasa (250-61 in 2) and Swertz defeated Faus 250-111 in two innings. Only Tilleman needed six innings for his victory vs. Gretillat.

Two Dutch specialists remained for the final: Raymund Swertz from Afferden, after a win against Gerassimopoulos 250-45 in four and Henri Tilleman from Dronten, who beat Daske 250-213 in five.

Raymund Swertz (from 4 September 1988) was the best in the final with a run of 174 and 76 to the finish (250-130 in 2).