CERVERA - The billiards specialists in the classic games in Europe start a marathon week in three different disciplines tomorrow (Tuesday 30 April) in the Spanish town of Cervera (Catalonia, population 9,000). 49-year-old Czech Marek Faus defends the titles in balkline 47/2 and 71/2, 44-year-old Spaniard Raul Cuenca is the titleholder in one cushion. The tournament starts tomorrow, Tuesday, with a two-day schedule of play in 47/2, with the other two disciplines following in the days days until Sunday.
Many of the contenders and specialists are playing in two or three disciplines. The Spanish, French and Dutch players are represented with the most players. The best-known names are Jean Paul de Bruijn, Raymund Swertz, Willy Gérimont, Patrick Niessen, Marek Faus, Xavier Grétillat and Raul Cuenca. 67-year-old Dutchman Jos Bongers, a former world champion in one cushion, who announced his retirement from his sport two years ago, is making his come-back on an international stage.
At the last European championships in these disciplines in Antalya, Marek Faus became champion in the two balkline disciplines. Raul Cuenca took the title in one cushion in a final with Jean Paul de Bruijn.
The organization is in the hands of the Spanish federation with Spaniard Carlos Borrell representing the CEB.
Types of games, participants, playing days and other information:
European one cushion championships
Tuesday 30/4 and Wednesday 1/5.
Four groups of 4, best two to knockout quarter-finals
Groups to 100 points, from quarter-finals 120
Entry fee: 150 euros
1st prize: 2,000 euros
2nd prize: 1,000
3rd/4th prize: 750.
Participants one cushion:
Raul Cuenca, Spain (defending champion)
Antoni Gutierrez (Spain)
Jean Paul de Bruijn (Netherlands)
Raymund Swertz (Netherlands)
Joan Espinasa (Spain)
Jos Bongers (Netherlands)
Xavier Gretillat (Switzerland)
Willy Gérimont (France)
Patrick Niessen (Belgium)
Nikolaos Gérassimopoulos (Greece)
Arnim Kahofer (Austria)
Sven Daske (Germany)
Marek Faus (Czech Republic)
Carlos Marques (Luxembourg)
Esteve Mata (Spain)
Xavier Leroy (France)
The line-ups in the four groups:
Group A: Cuenca, Gérassimopoulos, Leroy, Bongers
Group B: De Bruijn, Niessen, Kahofer, Gutierrez
Group C: Swertz, Espinasa, Faus, Marques
Group D: Grétillat, Gérimont, Mata, Daske.
European championship balkline 47/2
Thursday 2/5-Friday 3/5
Four groups of four, two per group to best eight
Groups 200 points, knock-outs 250.
1st prize: 2,000 euros
2nd prize: 1000 euro
3rd prize: 750
Participants:
Marek Faus, Czech Republic (defending champion)
Esteve Mata (Spain)
Raymund Swertz (Netherlands)
Sven Daske (Germany)
Michel van Silfhout (Netherlands)
Christian Pöther (Germany)
Willy Gérimont (France)
Nikolaos Gérassimopoulos (Greece)
Philippe Deraes (Belgium)
Arnim Kahofer (Austria)
Raul Cuenca (Spain)
Xavier Grétillat (Switzerland)
Carlos Marques (Luxembourg)
Micha van Bochem (Netherlands)
Jean-Francois Florent (France)
Patrick Niessen (Belgium)
Groups:
Group A: Faus, Kahofer, Cuenca, Marques
Group B: Swertz, Niessen, Florent, Pöther
Group C: Daske, Gérassimopoulos, Mata, Van Bochem
Group D: Gérimont, Van Silfhout, Deraes, Grétillat.
European Championship 71/2
Saturday 4/5-Sunday 5/5
Four groups of four, best 2 per group to quarter-finals.
Groups 150 points, knock-outs 200
1st prize: 2,000 euros
2nd prize: 1,000
3rd prize: 750.
Participants:
Marek Faus (Czech Republic)
Esteve Mata (Spain)
Raul Cuenca (Spain)
Willy Gérimont (France)
Joan Espinasa (Spain)
Jean-Francois Florent (France)
Raymund Swertz (Netherlands)
Sven Daske (Germany)
Patrick Niessen (Belgium)
Nikolaos Gérassimopoulos (Greece)
Xavier Grétillat (Switzerland)
Arnim Kahofer (Austria)
Carlos Marques (Luxembourg)
Benoit Legros (France)
Michel van Silfhout (Netherlands)
Christian Pöther (Germany)
The four groups:
Group A: Faus, Florent, Van Silfhout, Mata
Group B: Cuenca, Gérassimopoulos, Legros, Pöther
Group C: Gérimont, Niessen, Grétillat, Espinasa
Group D: Swertz, Daske, Kahofer, Marques.
The matches will be broadcast live by Kozoom.
Raul Cuenca, celebrating his last European title in one cushion in Antalya