LA BAULE - Together with the World Cup in La Baule, in the same venue, the French juniors play for the three cushion championship (Friday, 12.00). Twelve players are divided into four groups, who first meet in the preliminary rounds (today) and on Saturday in the semi-finals and final.
The defending champion, Thibaut Espada, is not among the participants, because he passed the age to play the tournament. He may represent his country at the junior World championship in Hurghada in December.
Adrien Tachoire has the richest palmares of the twelve players. Two years ago he took the junior world title in Sluiskil. Fifteen-year-old Maxime Panaia is the youngest player. He is this year's European champion three-cushion for players under 17 years.
Some previous French champions are Jérémy Bury, Jérôme Barbeillon, Cédric Melnytschenko, Adrien Tachoire, Thibaut Espada, Eric Tromas and Xavier Le Roy.
All matches of the tournament will be broadcast live by Kozoom.
The group formats:
Group A:
Gwendal Marechal (Lorient)
Johan Godel (Erstein)
Thomas le Coat (Morangis)
Group B:
Adrien Tachoire (Annecy)
Nathan Duriez (Quentin)
Cédric Vasseur (Soissons)
Group C:
Maxime Panaïa (Colmar)
Benjamin Montuy (Franconville)
Quentin Marcu (Rochefort)
Group D:
Jean Haby (Colmar)
Enzo Riquart (Vignacourt)
Jason Petit (Soissons).