PORTO - The Portuguese billiard player Rui Manuel Costa has conquered the national title in his country. He was the overall winner in the National League before Joao Ferreira and Paulo Andrade.
Rui Costa played his best matches against Joao Ferreira (5-31 in 37) and Santos Olivera (50-39 in 35). Joao Ferreira and Paulo Andrade, the numbers two and three in the ranking, faced eacht other in a poor match, won by Ferreira by 35-32 in 50 innings. Andrade defeated Rui Costa later in the tournament 50-37 in 37.
In the final ranking, Rui Costa finished with 18 points and the best average (1.195), leaving Ferreira and Andrade one point behind.
,,I am a happy man after winning this title'', said the champion, who was the substitute in the FC Porto in the preliminary rounds for the European Cup this season in a team with Dick Jaspers, Dani Sanchez and Joao Ferreira.
The top eight in the final phase: 1 Rui Manuel Costa 18pts, 1.195 2 João Ferreira, 17pts, 0.957 3 Paulo Andrade 17pts, 0.947, 4 Francisco Rodrigues 16pts, 1.085, 5 João Silva, 13pts, 0.811, 6 Vasco Gomes, 11pts, 0.866 7 Fernando Cunha, 11pts, 0.836 8. Santos Oliveira 9pts, 0.770.