Jaspers and Sánchez in brilliant form

ISTANBUL - Dick Jaspers, Dani Sánchez and Filippos Kasidokostas have qualified in spectacular matches for the quarterfinals in the European championship in Istanbul. The Spaniard, who couldn't show his great form so far, suddenly exploded in his match against Torbjörn Blomdahl, whom he defeated 40-19 in 14 innings (run 14).

The reigning champion Dick Jaspers was the undisputed star in this round. He wiped the Turkish favorite Lütfi Cenet from the table with a spectacular score: 40-12 in 8 innings, run 15. The Dutchman had a poor start with a loss against his compatriot Burgman, but repared very well and now put himself in title picture.

Filippos Kasidokostas, who escaped from elimination yesterday against Cenet, also showed himself in a much better form and outplayed Frédéric Caudron, one of the other contenders for the title: 40-36 in 17 innings, run of 13 Kasidokostas.

The Turkish public still has three favorites in the quarterfinals, of which Coklu and Tasdemir meet each other in next round.

Savas Bulut gave them a beautiful performance by beating Jerémy Bury (40-36 in 26). Tayfun Tasdemir couldn't shine on that high level like he did in the preliminaries, but beat Javier Palazón in the endrush with four caroms.

Nikos Polychronopoulos plays a tournament with ups and downs. After two marvellous matches and one bad against Blomdahl, the Greek was beaten on his way to the quarterfinal by Murat Naci Coklu, who won easily (40-27 in sixteen).

Martin Horn and Raimond Burgman and the remaining quarter-finalists. Horn defeated the Belgian Mottet 40-37 in 30 innings, Raimond Burgman surprised Marco Zanetti 40-34 in 23 innings.

The schedule for the quarter-finals (tonight, Saturday, 18.00 Turkish time):
Tasdemir-Coklu
Sánchez-Kasidokostas
Bulut-Burgman
Jaspers Horn.