BRANDENBURG - The championship started with 64 participants, Kenny Miatton was the reigning champion and the Belgian was again in the final this afternoon. But instead of a second title for Miatton, 37-year-old Czech Radovan Hajek was the best at the European championship three cushion on the small billiard. He won 40-26 in twenty innings.
The Czech player is from Ostrava, the third city in his country, he plays billiards from his 15th year, never had a teacher and is a member of BC Poruba. In his daily life he is repairing air conditions. Hajek plays around 1.000 on the match table. He was one-time Czech champion after beating Ivo Gazdos in the final. He also played the World championship three cushion in Valladolid, the Europeans in Antalya and the World championship for nation teams in Viersen.
The major contenders for the title had already been eliminated in the tournament. Eddy Merckx was surprisingly defeated by 21-year-old French nurse and fireman Thibaut Espeda: 40-33 in 18 innings. Two Turks were also seen as major favourites. Kenny Miatton beat both Birol Uymaz in the quarterfinals and Ahmet Bayatli in the semi-finals 40-29 in 20 and 40-24 in 17. Omer Karakurt, best man in the preselection, lost in the last sixteen against Herbert Szivacz 40-39 In 28.
Radovan Hajek already demonstrated his high level in the semi-final against Karl Makik whom he defeated 40-20 in 18. In the final, the Czech was stronger than Miatton, including a decisive run of 11.
The top five of highest averages:
1 Eddy Merckx and Birol Uymaz 2.329
3 Omer Karakurt 1.811
4 Kenny Miatton 1,771
5 Ahmet Bayatli 1,752.
The champion Radovan Hajek finished 1.718.
The Dutchman Roy Zielemans recorded the highest run, 16, followed by Radovan Hajek with 15, Omer Karakurt and Birol Uymaz with 14.
The top of the medal ranking after seven days:
1 Belgium 3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze, 7 total
2 Italy 3-2-2-7
3 France 2-1-2-5
4 Netherlands 1-4-2-7
5 Spain 1-0-5-6.
Het podium van de kleine tafel met Radovan Hajek on top, Kenny Miatton right, Ahmet Bayatli and Karl Makik winners of bronze medal