ANTALYA - Two major champions, recently crowned best in the world with Turkey, have been unexpectedly eliminated at the European Championships in Antalya. Tayfun Tasdemir and Semih Sayginer are no longer competing for the top prizes after losing against Thomas Andersen and Eddy Merckx. Two other major champions needed a stunning final sprint to survive: Spanish defending champion Dani Sánchez against his compatriot Ruben Legazpi, world number one Dick Jaspers against his country man Jean Paul de Bruijn.
The first highlight of the day, in which the rounds with the best 16, best eight and best four are played at the European three cushion Championship, came from Marco Zanetti. The Italian maestro made a phenomenal run of 21 in his match against Jacob Haack Sörensen.
Dick Jaspers faced a deficit all game against Jean Paul de Bruijn (14-3, 22-16) and only equalized at 35-35. From that moment there was no stopping him. The Dutch number one straightened things out with two quickly following runs of 8 and 11 and finished 50-42 in 23.
Dani Sánchez had to make an even bigger trick to overtake Ruben Legazpi. The long Spaniard outplayed the short Spaniard measuring 37-23, and even 47-39, when Sánchez suddenly attacked with a run of 9 and took the lead 48-47. Legazpi then missed a triangle and a round-the-table, after which Sánchez was able to finish it off.
Marco Zanetti made his run of 21 at 12-9 against Sörensen and, after the safe margin (33-9), ran out to 50-21 in 20. Torbjörn Blomdahl let Roland Forthomme get close in the last stages of the match, but increased the margin to 42-22 (43-35 moments later) and won 50-35 in 31 innings.
The world champion, Tayfun Tasdemir, ran into great Dane in his match. Thomas Andersen was looking at an 18-2 deficit when he went to 18-13 with a run of 11 and took a 44-32 lead against the stunned Tasdemir moments later. The Turk had no suitable final sprint and lost 50-45 in 29.
Semih Sayginer, the best man in the whole field on Thursday, had no chance against Eddy Merckx. The Belgian ran from 10-3 to 19-12, 27-12, 36-21 and remained out of trouble, 50-31 in 25.
Two Turks remain for the last eight. Tolgahan Kiraz blew out the fairytale of Cédric Melnytschenko (50-33 in 27). Lütfi Cenet and Berkay Karakurt played against each other. The winner was Karakurt with 50-44 in 37 innings.
The matches in the next round (11.30 West European time):
Sánchez-Merckx
Zanetti-Andersen
Blomdahl-Kiraz
Jaspers-Karakurt
The semi-finals are at 15.45 and 18.00 (Western Europe).
The champion killer Thomas Andersen in his match with Tayfun Tasdemir