BRANDENBURG AN DER HAVEL - The four players in one cushion that remain for the battle at the European championships have an early wake-up for the semi-finals tomorrow (Tuesday). The Stahlpalast opens its doors around half pas eight for the matches between Frédéric Caudron, the defending champion, and Bernard Villiers and between Arnim Kahofer and Nicolas Gerassimopoulos.
Two of the four Frenchmen survived the quarterfinals in the afternoon. Bernard Baudoin (55) was eliminated (by Kahofer), the 33-year-old Breton Grégory Le Deventec (by Caudron) went into a brave effort and even put the Belgian master 100-83 behind after a great run of 62, but Caudron felt the danger and finished 120-100 (ten innings).
Caudron was not surprised by the French invasion in the quarterfinals: ,,There are a lot of classic players there and have good technical players.'' The Belgian stated that he had missed twice on a 'butage'. ,,I don't know why, but the tables are difficult: they are 'long', even too long, making it difficult to keep the balls together. Yet, the level is pretty high.''
Nicolas Gerassimopoulos now outplayed the Czech Marek Faus, after De Bruijn and Leppens in the preliminaries, however his match was the least of the four quarter-finals (120-92 in 20).
The 49-year-old Ronchin player Bernard Villiers, who was French master in one cushion four times and played the finale at the European championship two years ago against Caudron, dazzled in the first innings along the Dutchman Dave Christiani with a run of 71. He even led 106-64 after three innings in an amazing start and then the Frenchman finished it off 120-76 in eight.
Frédéric Caudron and Bernard Villiers come up for the European replay early in the morning (9.00 am), Arnim Kahofer will face Gerassimopoulos. The Austrian shows his form already for weeks in three cushion and was unfortunate to be outplayed at the European championships by Christian Rudolph.
Shortly before the European championship he went to Berlin with Xavier Gretillat for a day of practicing. ,,I feel very good and the changeover from three-cushion to one cushion went fairly quickly.'' Kahofer actually feels happy with the medal: ,,That was the main goal.'' But don't think that he doesn't want more. ,,The big favourite is Caudron now, but for sure he can be beaten.''
The semi-finals:
Tuesday at 9.00 pm:
Caudron-Villiers
Kahofer-Gerassimopoulos
The final is at 17.00.