FLORANGE - The European championships artistic billiards will continue in the individual tournament this Thursday with 16 players, who remain from the preliminary rounds with 24 players. From 10 in the morning, the final players will be in action in the matches, which will be broadcast live on Kozoom. Turkey's Haci arap Yaman was the best of the qualified players on Wednesday with the top five further featuring Michaël Hammen (France), Anthony Marin (France), Baris Cin (Turkey), the title holder, and Kevin Tran (France).
The final field further includes Belgian Erik Vervliet and Dutchman Erik Vijverberg. The candidates for the title are mainly the Turkish and French players in this field. Spaniard Xavier Fonellosa and Dutchman Rene Dericks could not survive the preliminary rounds. Fonellosa lost to Erik Vijverberg and Bernd Singer, Dericks to Anthony Marin and Serdar Gumus.
The individual championship is decided over the next two days: the European champion will be known on Friday. Saturday and Sunday, the nation teams will play for the European title.
The teams for the Nations championship are:
Turkey 1, France 1, Belgium 1 (Erik Vervliet, Steve Wilms), Germany 1, Spain 1, Austria 1, Netherlands (Erik Vijverberg, Benny Smits), Luxembourg, Turkey 2, France 2, Belgium 2 and Germany 2.
Best 16 after the preliminary rounds and knock-out matches:
Haci arap Yaman-Matthieu Franck
Erik Vervliet-Emrah Tac
Kevin Tran-Bastien Panis
Baris Sin-Sergio Sanchez
Anthony Marin-Manfred Hekerle
Erik Vijverberg-Serdar Gumus
Hector Cuadrado-Thomas Arens
Michael Hammen-Bernd Singer
The ranking after the prerounds:
- Haci arap Yaman 4-301
- Michael Hammen 4-257
- Anthony Marin 4-250
- Baris Cin 4-240
- Kevin GTran 4-255
- Erik Vijverberg 4-229
- Hector Cuadrado 4-210
- Erik Vervliet 2-248
- Emrah Tac 2-261
- Thomas Arens 2-260
- Serdar Gumus 2-222
- Bastien Panis 2-209
- Sergio Sanchez 2-220
- Manfred Hekerle 2-188
- Bernd Singer 2-206
- Matthieu Franck 2-188