ANDERNOS - The outcome of the last day in the Kozom Challenge was not surprising anymore: Dick Jaspers is the second player after Ruben Legazpi to qualify for the finals of the tournament in Andernos les Bains. The news on this final day was not the victory of the Dutchman, but came from the tournament table. Three groups of three players have been moved to a later time.
Dick Jaspers maintained his position as the comfortable leader on the last of three days in the match with Peter Ceulemans and Rui Manuel Costa. Instead of the excitement of the match, the viewers on Kozoom had the opportunity to ask questions to Torbjörn Blomdahl, the live commentator, via chat and whatsapp. The Swedish world champion was buried under many questions from Dutch, Belgian, French, German, Turkish and Spanish viewers about his hobbies, future, formats, timers and other interesting things in threecushion. It became an extremely interesting live broadcast, which was appreciated by the viewers.
Jaspers' lead was extended on the last day with five winning sets from eight matches. That brought him to 16 sets won over three days with an average of 1.814 and a highest run of 7. The pursuers stayed at respectable distance: Peter Ceulemans was the runner-up with 5 sets and 1.252 average, Rui Costa won 3 sets in total out of 24, exactly 1.000 average and just like Ceulemans a highest run of 8.
The Kozoom organisation is trying to get Blomdahl to commentate for the next group matches as well. The next groups have been postponed because of the pandemic, which forces players from outside the Schengen countries to go into quarantine.
The group with Eddy Merckx, Tayfun Tasdemir and Maxime Panaia has been moved to 5, 6 and 7 May. The group with Murat Naci Coklu, Dion Nelin and Jérôme Barbeillon has been moved to 15, 16 and 17 May. The group with Torbjörn Blomdahl, Lütfi Cenet and Gwendal Maréchal plays on 19, 20 and 21 May.
The final ranking of Pool A:
1 Dick Jaspers 16-205-113-1,814-7
2 Peter Ceulemans 5-134-107-1.252-8
3 Rui Costa 3-107-107-1.000-8
Dick Jaspers, the comfortable group winner
Peter Ceulemans, the runner-up on a distance