Germans are the show masters in bizarre European prerounds

ANKARA - The Germans made a huge impression with their first team in the preliminary rounds of the European three-cushion team championship. Martin Horn and Ronny Lindemann reached the maximum match points and beat the Italians 4-0 in the decisive match. Martin Horn excelled in his match against Marco Zanetti, whom he beat 40-16 in 12 innings (average 3.333). His teammate Ronny Lindemann also showed top form against Emilio Sciacca: 40-13 in 15. The Germans were at the top of the group of eight qualified teams. The preliminary rounds claimed more major victims: the Greek defending champion with Nikos Polychronopoulos, the two Belgian teams (including Eddy Merckx and Peter Ceulemans), the Turkish flagship (with Tayfun Tasdemir), the Spaniards, who took silver at the World championship with Ruben Legazpi and Sergio Jimenez, and the first Dutch team (Jean Paul de Bruijn and Jeffrey Jorissen) also flew out of the tournament early.

The biggest sensation is that the first five seeded teams were eliminated: Greece 1, Turkey 1, Belgium 1, Spain 1 nd the Netherlands 1.

The Germans lead the prerounds with 8 individual match points ahead of the Netherlands 2 and Sweden 1, also with 8 match points. They are followed by Turkey 2, Spain 2, France 2, Portugal and France 1.

The second Dutch team with Glenn Hofman and Barry van Beers, that had an amazing start with 1.860 on average over four games, plays Wednesday morning at. 9.30 against Portugal, the team that eliminated Netherlands 1.

The biggest surprises came from Netherlands 2, Spain 2, Turkey 2 and France 2. 

Greece's defending champion had to bow to France 2, although Polychronopoulos won against Maxime Panaia 40-21 in 21 innings, Kostas Kokkoris lost to Adrien Tachoire 40-38 in 35. Polychronopoulos also won against the Czech Republic in an excellent game (13 innings), but Kokkoris played a draw against new Czech champion Radek Novák in 44 innings.

The Swedish team with Blomdahl and Nilsson eliminated Denmark 4-0 in the final evening session. Although Jean Paul de Bruijn for the Netherlands won against Rui Costa, Jeffrey Jorissen was beaten by Jose Miguel Soares, eliminating the Dutch team.

The Spanish favorite with Legazpi and Jimenez stumbled over Netherlands 2 with Hofman and Van Beers. The Belgians disappeared from the tournament by a tie against Turkey 2, with Peter Ceulemans winning over Turgay Orak, but Roland Forthomme losing to Burak Hashas 40-31 in 33.

Robinson Morales was one of the big stars in these preliminary rounds. The Spanish Colombian personally ensured the elimination of the Turkish home team by beating Tayfun Tasdemir 40-27 in 19, while Tolgahan Kiraz beat Adrian Legazpi 40-39 in 37. Tasdemir and Kiraz earlier played a draw against Belgium 2.

The matches in the quarter-finals are (Wednesday morning 9.30 Turkish time):

Germany 1-France 1 (Martin Horn-Jérémy Bury, Ronny Lindemann-Cédric Melnytschenko)

Netherlands 2-Portugal 1 (Glenn Hofman-Rui Costa, Barry van Beers-Jose Miguel Soares)

Sweden 1-France 2 (Torbjörn Blomdahl-Maxime Panaia, Michael Nilsson-Adrien Tachoire)

Turkey 2-Spain 2 Turgay Orak-Robinson Morales, Burak Hashas-Adrian Legazpi).

The ranking of the eight qualified countries:

1. Germany 1 4-8-1,882-10
2. Netherlands 2 4-8-1,860-8
3. Turkey 2 3-6-1,530-8
4. Spain 2 3-6-1,370-11
5. Portugal 1 3-6-1,231-7
6. France 2 2-4-1,666-9
7. Sweden 1 2-4-1,632-10
8. Austria 1 2-4-0,962-8

The semi-finals are at 1pm Turkish time, the final at 5pm.

All matches live on Kozoom.