BRANDENBURG - The 52-year-old Eric Daelman already won the world title in 2009, four years later he conquered the European title in Brandenburg. The Belgian won the championship thanks to a superb final with a great score of 85.71%. His opponent in the final match was the reigning world champion Serdar Gümüs from Turkey, whom he defeated 3-1: 58/44, 49/51, 75/65 and 58/49.
The Belgian bested in the second round Hector Cuadrado from Spain in three sets with 68.57%, followed by the victory in the quarter-final against his compatriot Eric Vervliet in a tough five set match. In the semifinals Daelman faced again a Belgian competitor, Walter Bax. Daelman closed the match with a 3-1 score.
The new European champion recorded a total of 914 points in 1188, that means a score of 77.58%.
Serdar Gümüs finished as second after two wins and one loss in the group stage (against Walter Bax). Then he first defeated the defending champion Sander Jonen in five sets in the eight final and Frenchman Michael Hammen in the quarterfinals 3-1.
The famous Frenchman Jean Reverchon had to bow in the semifinals for Gümüs, again in a five sets match (62.931 to 64.485).
Gümüs made 1244 points in 1944, 63.99%.
On the stage Eric Daelman was rewarded by the gold medal, Serdar Gümüs took silver, the bronze was for Walter Bax and Jean Reverchon.
Sander Jonen, the dethroned champion, finished fourteenth in the field.