SCHILTIGHEIM - What an amazing start Marco Zanetti, Tayfun Tasdemir and Filippos Kasidokostas were showing the audience in the Agipi arena in the first session. Three matches over two average, Zanetti even 2.778 and one match which was sparkling until the end.
The Turk Tasdemir and the Greek Kasidokostas battled in a great match, which was vibrant and exciting until the last caroms, which were decisive for win or lose the game.
Tasdemir had a brilliant start, but almost let it slip away at the end. ,,I felt the tension, because I could not finish'', said the Turk later with the sweat drops still on his forehead.
He started with 14 in four innings, later launched another attack with 8, 4 and 7 and thus built up a 45-27 lead in 17 innings.
Because Zanetti did the same at the other table (45 in 16 innings against Jean-Christophe Roux) there was not that much tension about the winners.
The Italian continued to score, just had a little slump (one in five innings between 9th and 13th), but slipped elegantly through the finish with 7, 5, 7, 0 and 5 in a part of the match in which Roux already had bowed his head for his opponen: 50-29 in 18 innings.
But Tasdemir, in his fight with Kasidokostas, suddenly lost his way at 45 points. He needed five more innings for his winning caroms and saw Kasidokostas scoring 7, 5, 5, 2 and 4 in a tough fight.
The Greek just came a little too short in his final jump (50-48). That means, he surely needs a win in his next flight-match. But his opponent is a famous one on this ground: Marco Zanetti.
Torbjörn Blomdahl, the title holder, will kick off against Jean Christophe Roux tonight.