ANDERNOS - The conclusion after one day was that Torbjörn Blomdahl will not run into a walk-over, Gwendal Maréchal has a great respect, but no fear at all for the world champion and Ronny Lindemann must return with a little miracle to still be in the race over three days. The French young man demonstrated his brilliant talents in the Kozoom arena, facing the Swedish grand master for the first time in his career, ending the day with a promising draw: 4-4. The air is buzzing in Kozoom's arena.
The level on the opening day had not yet been that high in the other sessions of the Kozoom Challenge. The two frontrunners played in eight sets over 2 and exactly 2: Blomdahl 2,241, Maréchal 2,000. These high averages were no coincidence. Torbjörn Blomdahl had been in the Kozoom studios as a commentator for some days and knew the secrets of the match table. Gwendal Maréchal was referee in the previous round and was able to observe the run of the balls from close by.
That knowledge was lacking for Ronny Lindemann, the German swim teacher, who couldn't take one set and played half as much in average as his two competitors. With 25 points in 26 innings, he balanced around 1 on average, not able to compete for set wins.
Gwendal Maréchal entered the battle without any trepidation and won the second, the fourth, the fifth and the penultimate, seventh set. Three sets before the end, the Frenchman's average was still slightly higher than Blomdahl's who restored the balance in set wins in the sixth and eighth and passed his opponent on average.
The Swedish top-favourite for victory was at his best in the enthralling sixth set, in which Maréchal started with 6 and Blomdahl finished with 10. The Frenchman pulled the next round to himself again, when he ran out with 5 at 5-5. The final set turned into the equaliser for Blomdahl after a 5-1 lead by Maréchal. The finishing touch, at 6-6, was for Blomdahl with 4, bringing the score to 4-4.
The ranking after the first day:
1 Torbjörn Blomdahl 4-65-29-2,241-10
2 Gwendal Maréchal 4-58-29-2,000-6
3 Ronny Lindemann 0-25-26-0,962-4
The set scores on the first day:
Set 1:
Blomdahl 10, Lindemann 4, Maréchal 3
Set 2:
Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 8, Lindemann 1
Set 3:
Blomdahl 10, Lindemann 5, Maréchal 3
Set 4:
Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 6, Lindemann 0
Set 5:
Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 6, Lindemann 6
Set 6:
Blomdahl 10, Maréchal 6, Lindemann 4
Set 7:
Maréchal 10, Blomdahl 5, Lindemann 2
Set 8:
Blomdahl 10, Maréchal 6, Lindemann 3.
The live broadcast of the second round can be seen today, Thursday, from 17.00 on Kozoom.
Gwendal Maréchal in a serious challenge
Torbjörn Blomdahl at the table, Ronny Lindemann in the background
Gwendal Maréchal in a deep focus near the end of the first day