ANTALYA – Czech player Marek Faus has captured the European championship in balk-line 71/2 after winning the 47/2 discipline earlier this week. That makes him the king of the classic games and the sensation of the Europeans. Never before did Marek Faus become champion of Europe in an individual game type. The double was a reward for his high class and amazing fighting spirit.
The Czech's come-back in the final against Frenchman Willy Gerimont was impressive. Marek Faus came back from a big deficit and won the final under pressure thanks to a magnificent run of 180. Gerimont stuck on 171 in 11 innings: averages 18.18 and 15.54 for the two matadors.
The Czech winner crowned his tournament after first beating Sven Daske in the quarter-finals, the German with whom he was also competing for the 47/2 title. Faus beat Daske 200-91 in nine innings. The most notable player missing on the final day was Dutchman Raymund Swertz, who was eliminated by his compatriot Micha van Bochem in the extension: after 200-200 in 6 innings, the score was 20-7 for Van Bochem in the shoot-outs.
Two Dutchmen were in the semi-finals: Micha van Bochem and Michel van Silfhout, who defeated Patrick Niessen in the quarter-finals 200-38 in 3. However, one or two Dutch players in the final match was not the outcome. Van Bochem lost to Willy Gerimont 200-148 in 13, Van Silfhout came up just short against Marek Faus 200-154 in 5 innings.
The final ranking in 71/2
1 Marek Faus 10-28.12-180
2 Willy Gerimont 8-22.33-156
3 Michel van Silfhout 6-38.47-118
4 Micha van Bochem 6-13.50-108
5 Raymund Swertz 4-45.45-142
6 Patrick Niessen 4-19.88-105
7 Sven Daske 4-15.03-89
8 Esteve Mata 4-26.41-100.
Marek Faus and Willy Gerimont with the referees in the final match
Willy Gerimont, and excellent championship, beaten by Marek Faus in the final sprint in 71/2