LÈGE CAP FERRET - The final of the Kozoom Challenge Cup will be played from 16 to 19 September with the eight seeded finalists in Lège Cap Ferret, on the famous peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Arcachon in the French department of Gironde. The eight players for the final have qualified as the winners of the eight groups in the preliminary rounds. The venue has a capacity of 150 spectators. The finalists are Eddy Merckx, Dick Jaspers, Marco Zanetti, Dion Nelin, Gwendal Maréchal, Ruben Legazpi, Roland Forthomme and Peter De Backer. The schedule of play has been made on the basis of the double knockout format.
The team of Kozoom, in the new billiard centre in Andernos, succeeded, in spite of the health crisis, to let the eight groups of three players play over a period of three months to reach the final round. The eight groups played in the private studio in 24 days of competition. The first edition, which will have a sequel next year, unfortunately had to deal with cancellations by Dani Sánchez, Semih Sayginer, Martin Horn, Tayfun Tasdemir, Murat Naci Coklu, Lütfi Cenet and Therese Klompenhouwer.
The four best players of the world ranking were present: three of them, Dick Jaspers, Marco Zanetti and Eddy Merckx, qualified, the number four, Torbjörn Blomdahl, was eliminated by the young French talent Gwendal Maréchal.
The Swedish world champion will be present during the final round. He will enjoy the Kozoom audience with his great English commentary during the matches.
The matches will be played on one of the blue Chevillotte Masters tables on the grey Simonis cloths as in the qualifications.
The winner of the final will be awarded €12,000, the runner-up €8,000 and the semi-finalists €5,000. The total prize money is 52,000 euros.
The competition schedule is as follows:
Thursday 16 September:
11.30: Eddy Merckx-Peter De Backer
14.00: Roland Forthomme-Gwendal Maréchal
16.30: Ruben Legazpi-Marco Zanetti
19.00: Dion Nelin-Dick Jaspers
Friday 17th September:
Matches at 11.30, 14.00 and 16.30.
Saturday 18 September:
Matches at 14.00, 16.30 and 19.00.
Sunday 19 September:
Semi-finals at 11.00 and 13.30.
Final at 17.00 hrs.
Entrance to La Halle in Lège Cap-Ferret is 10 euros for one day of competition, a pass for 4 days is 30 euros.
The famous French area of Cap-Ferret
The final result of the winners in the qualification rounds