ANDERNOS - The final day in Group C and Group D in the Kozoom Challenge is heading towards a climax with five players still in the race for two places. Marco Zanetti is still leading in Group C, but is only one set ahead of Ruben Legazpi (6-5). The final battle is even more exciting in the other group, where Roland Forthomme took over the lead from Nikos Polychronopoulos with 5 wins against 4 for the Greek and Dave Christiani also has a chance with 3 wins.
Ruben Legazpi was the better of Marco Zanetti on the second day with four set wins against two for the comfortable leader after the first day. The Spaniard's average on the second day was also slightly better than his Italian rival with 1,561 against 1,448. Arnim Kahofer failed to narrow the margin on the two leaders and is almost eliminated.
The second day in Group C started with Zanetti on 4 set wins, Legazpi and Kahofer on 1. The Spaniard, who won the first edition of the Kozoom Challenge, started the pursuit furiously on the second day and won the second, third, fifth and sixth set in 4, 7, 4 and 6 innings. That brought Legazpi in the intermediate score to one set behind Zanetti, who on the second day only scored in the 1st and 4th set with 10 in 4 and 10 in 2. For Legazpi, 1,731 in average was recorded, for Zanetti 1,500.
Roland Forthomme had a formidable finish, just like on the first day. With his two last set wins in 1 and in 5 innings, he climbed to the leading position in the standings with 5 sets, ahead of Polychronopoulos with 4 and Christiani with 3. The Belgian also won the first set 10-8-8 in a fierce battle with the two opponents, from whom Polychronopoulos could only score once and Christiani twice in the middle part.
The end of the games was sensational. With a score of 4 for Polychronopoulos, 3 for Forthomme and 3 for Christiani, the balls rolled in favor of the Belgian, who first won the second last set 10 in 1. In the last battle to 10, it could go either way. Dave Christiani missed the set point at 9 and somewhat unfortunate left a good position for Forthomme. The Belgian grabbed the ultimate opportunity and finished the set with 5 for a score of 10-9-8.
The averages in Group D were a little higher than in the other group on this second day. Forthomme played 1,917, Polychronopoulos 1,783 and Christiani 1,708.
The score after two days:
Group C:
1 Marco Zanetti 6-1.448-7
2 Ruben Legazpi 5-1.561-8
3 Arnim Kahofer 1-0.857-5
From left to right Arnim Kahofer, Marco Zanetti and Ruben Legazpi
Group D:
1 Roland Forthomme 5-5-1.750-10
2 Nikos Polychronopoulos 4-1.723-9
3 Dave Christiani 3-1.489-7.
Dave Christiani, Roland Forthomme and Nikos Polychronopoulos