PRAGUE - The final day at the Euro Grand Prix 71/2 in Prague is launched on this early Sunday morning with the quarterfinals (10.00). Among the eight players are five strong French balk-line experts and three of the main favourites for the victory: the Czech Mark Faus, Belgian Patrick Niessen and Spaniard Raul Cuenca.
The best Frenchman so far, Olivier Careaux, is facing Patrick Niessen in the quarters. Raul Cuenca plays against Marek Faus. The other two matches are the confrontations between the French players Bernard Villiers and Patrick Dupont and Bernard Jacquet and Patrick Dessaint.
The first knockout matches were marked by two exciting fights. The Dutchman Germ Bot stumbled over his last carom against David Jacquet, who finished at 200-146. Bot scored 53 points from the spots, but missed his last carom by a hair (200-199 in 15).
The match between Marek Faus and Johann Petit also fascinated until the final points. The Czech crawled through the eye of the needle and won 200-196 (12), despite a 109-run of Petit.
Bernard Villiers showed up as the best winner in this round against Nicolas Gérassimopoulos. The Greek had no chance to fight himself into the match: 200-45 in 4. Olivier Careaux sparkled again with a high run (181) in his match against Janis Ziogas (200- 73 in 6).
Raul Cuenca defeated Jean-Francois Florent (200-43 in 7), Patrick Dupont bested Adam Kozak (200-158 in eight), Patrick Dessaint beat Benoit Legros (200-124 in 13) and Patrick Niessen defeated Adam Baca 200-107 in 8.
The quarterfinals (live on Kozoom) at 10.00 Sunday:
Bernard Villiers-Patrick Dupont
Patrick Dessaint-David Jacquet
Olivier Careaux-Patrick Niessen
Raul Cuenca-Marek Faus.
The semi-finals are at 12.00, the finals at 15.00.