DUDELANGE - The young German player Simon Blondeel and the Belgian Bryan Eelen are the leaders after three rounds in the ranking at the European championship free game under 17 years. In the tournament, which is played in Dudelange, Luxembourg, eight finalists were launched for a round robin competition. They meet each others in matches to 200 caroms.
Simon Blondeel, who concluded himself that he had ,,a bad start'', won his three matches and averaged 26.08. Bryan Eelen remained unbeaten and has 18.18. The main rival of the two frontrunners, the Frenchman Yohann Alderbonn took his four match points out of three with 20.58 average.
Blondeel won his first matches in four and five innings against Nino Coeckelbergs (200-27) and Nick Dudink (200-24). Bryan Eelen defeated Coeckelbergs 200-87 in eight innings. Yohann Alderbonn took his four match points against Leon Dudink (200-28 in 7) and Kevin van Hees (200-71 in 7), but lost in the second round to Maxime Schreiner from Luxembourg 200-197 in 15. Schreiner himself lost in a thrilling match against Nick Dudink 200-198 in 14.
The ranking after three rounds:
1 Simon Blondeel (Ger) 6-26.08
2 Bryan Eelen (Bel) 6-18.18
3 Yohann Alderbonn (Fra) 4-20.58
4 Maxime Schreiner (Lux) 2-14.29
5 Leon Dudink (Neth) 2-12.74
6 Kevin van Hees (Bel) 2-12.02
7 Nick Dudink (Neth) 2-9.89
8 Nino Coeckelbergs (Bel) 0-8.42.