Raul Cuenca a brilliant champion in Antalya

ANTALYA - The first of 15 European titles to be awarded in Antalya these days went to Raul Cuenca this Sunday. The Spanish all-round player succeeded Frenchman Bernard Baudoin after winning the final against Dutch top favorite Jean Paul de Bruijn. The Spanish classical player, who works in a hospital, faced the six-time European champion and living legend in this game discipline. Cuenca was the outsider in the run-up. Before this final, Cuenca had 5,50 on overall average and was coming from a half-marathon final in 34 innings against Pascal Dessaint. Jean Paul de Bruijn was at 11.57 on average, about double that of all other players in this tournament. Therefore, all the experts expected a victory for the Dutchman. It turned out totally different: Cuenca won 120-36 in 8 innings!!!

On the match tables, which were considered very difficult by all players because of the high speed, Raul Cuenca was not going to let himself be led to the slaughter. He eventually delivered a top performance in this final.

Raul Cuenca chose the attack early on and later also was a sublime defence player. He started with 30, Jean Paul de Bruijn responded and after three innings both players were evenly matched. Without giving his opponent a chance to come back, Cuenca continued with a run of 46 strikes, leading 77-34 at the break. With two runs, one of 18, one of 25, the Spaniard then went to the finish line in an uproar to explode his joy in the eighth inning.

The way Raul Cuenca played this final was masterful. He added a European title to the classic discipline he won in 2017 in the balk-line 71/2. Jean Paul de Bruijn, superior in his previous performances and therefore the absolute favorite, had no answer to the Spaniard's sublime performance.

In the group stage, Cuenca remained unbeaten in five games against Michael Hikl (Austria) 100-57 in 18, Patrick Niessen (Belgium) 100-33 in 13, Willy Gérimont (France) in the quarter-finals 120-89 in 15, Pascal Dessaint in the semi-finals 120-86 in 34 and then in the final against Jean Paul de Bruijn 120-36 in 8. The Spaniard has the 2nd best overall average with 6.36, the 2nd best match with 15.00 and the 2nd best run with 46.

Jean Paul de Bruijn has the best statistics with 10.34 on overall average, a match average 17.14 and a best run of 55. He consecutively beat Jean-François Florent (France) 100-23 in 6 innings and Jacky Justice (France) 100-80 in 10 innings before advancing to the quarter-finals against Joan Espinasa 120-68 in 7 innings and the semi-finals against his compatriot Raymund Swertz 120-62 in 15 innings. After his first three games, De Bruijn had an average of almost 14, but fell back in the semi-finals and final.

The podium was completed by Pascal Dessaint (4.36) and Raymund Swertz (5.23).

Raul Cuenca celebrating his gold medal at the Europeans in Antalya

Raul Cuenca with his wife and two kids in the arena

The final podium with Jean Paul de Bruijn (second), Raul Cuenca, the champion and the numbers 3 Raymund Swertz and Pascal Dessaint

The final ranking:

1 Raul Cuenca (Spain) 6.36 average

2 Jean Paul de Bruijn (Netherlands) (10.34)

3 Raymund Swertz (Ned) 5.23

3 Pascal Dessaint (Fr) 4.36

5 Joan Espinasa (Sp) 5.37

6 Willy Gérimont (Fr) 4.98

7 Johann Petit (Fr) 4.81

8 Bernard Villiers (Fr) 4.62

9 Jacky Justice (Fr) 6,20

10 Bernard Baudoin (Fr) 5.37

11 Xavier Le Roy (Fr) 5.10

12 Patrick Niessen (Belgium) 4.92.