BLOIS – The new billiards stronghold in Blois, which has excelled in organizing major events for a few years now, is hosting artistic billiards players this week for a Grand Prix of the European federation CEB. Forty players have already completed the preliminary selection and start the knockout rounds today, Saturday, with sixteen players. Haci Arap Yaman from Turkey and Jop de Jong from the Netherlands lead the provisional rankings.
The tournament, in sweltering Blois (heatwave of 35 to 40 degrees), is the second CEB Grand Prix this season. The results count towards the European ranking, where the Turk Haci Arap Yaman is number 1, ahead of Frenchman Michael Hammen, Turk Baris Cin, Belgian Erik Vervliet and Spaniard Hector Cuadrado.
Most top players have qualified for the knockout phase. The major absentee is René Dericks, the Dutch world champion, who only came in 23rd place in the preliminary selection. Haci Arap Yaman has the highest percentage with 70.405, ahead of Jop de Jong with 67.541 and Kevin Tran with 67.303.
The round of 16 starts on Saturday with the following matches:
Yaman-Ahrens
Vervliet-Quadrado
Marin-Toth
Heinrich-Lacroix
Tran-Wilms
Cin-Nirige
Hammen-Toure
De Jong-Van den Zegel
The standings after the preliminary rounds over 56 figures:
1 Haci Arap Yaman
2 Jop de Jong
3 Kevin Tran
4 Marvin Heinrich
5 Anthony Marin
6 Baris Cin
7 Michael Hammen
8 Erik Vervliet
9 Hector Cuadrado
10 Madou Toure
11 Emmanuel Nirige
12 Laszlo Toth
13 Olivier Lacroix
14 Steve Wilms
15 Erik van den Zegel
16 Thomas Arens.
Dutch player Joe de Jong