DOUARNENEZ - The podium was for Sam van Etten on the first days at the European Cup for classic teams. The 22-year old Dutch player shone in the 47/2 balk line game with matches of 250 caroms in 1 and 2 innings (166.66 on average). The Swiss Xavier Grétillat also played a perfect match in the 71/2 game type (200 in one inning). The two finalists from last year, Douarnenez and DBC Bochum, finished as the two group winners. Tomorrow, Sunday, the semi-finals are between Douarnenez and De Picardie (9.30) and between DBC Bochem and Chartres (12.00).
The audience in the stands for the European team admired the Sam van Etten show, the Dutchman who balanced brilliantly on the balk-lines. Two weeks ago, the hugely talented young man announced that he should pay more attention to three cushion now that he is a regular player on a team in the Dutch Premier league. The classic games, however, are still fascinating him, certainly now that he is one of the big contenders for the European championship next month in Brandenburg.
With his DBC Bochum team, Sam van Etten won his matches against De Picardie 6-0 and in the last evening session BC Oissel 4-2. Thomas Nockemann won his second match against Benoit Deziles after a final run of 40 (200-139 in 7), Ludger Havlik was beaten by an excelent Johann Petit, who shone in the one cushion with a run of 80: 120-67 in 6.
Sam van Etten, "We luckily had a wonderful start. The ambiance is very good and the tables feel perfect. We can go for a good sleep with 6-0 and 4-2 wins. Tomorrow is another day, Chartres is a difficult opponent, we often meet each other, but we are in a good mood''.
The title holder, Douarnenez, also remained unbeaten playing Chartres and Merklinde and lost only one match of six. Willy Gérimont bested one of the other specialists, Raymund Swertz, in the balk-line 47/2, 250-26 in 4. The Frenchman later was the better of Christian Pöther 250-7 in 4, good for a 62.50 average, second behind Sam van Etten. Pierre Soumagne in the balk-line 71-2 and Grégory Le Deventec in one cushion were unbeaten for the Douarnenez team. Soumagne played the matches of 200 caroms in 4 and 9 innings, Le Deventec the 120 points in one cushion in 15 and 20 innings.
Chartres took the second place in Group A by a 5-1 win over Merlinde. Xavier Grétillat shone in the match against Martijn Egbers in the 71-2 (200-0 in 1 inning). Jacky Justice and Mark Faus played a draw in one cushion: 120-120 in 20.
The Dutch De Picardie won the decisive battle for second place in Group B against BC Oissel 4-2. The two teams eliminated are Merlinde and BC Oissel.
The final rankings in the groups:
Group A:
1 Douarnenez 2-4 (10-2)
2 Chartres 2-2 (7-5)
3 Merlinde 2-0 (1-11).
Group B:
1 DBC Bochum 2-4 (10-2)
2 The Picardie 2-2 (4-8)
3 BC Oissel 2-0 (4-8)
The Douarnenez title holder with Pierre Soumagne, Raymund Swertz and Grégory Le Deventec
The individual rankings:
Balk-line 47/2:
1 Sam van Etten 2-4-166.66
2 Willy Gérimont 2-4-62.50
3 Raymund Swertz 2-2-46.00
4 Pierre Martory 2-2-27.88
5 Micha van Bochem 2-0-7.60
6 Christian Pöther 2-0-5.33
Balk-line 71/2:
1 Pierre Soumagne 2-4-30.76
2 Thomas Nockemann 2-4-28.57
3 Xavier Grétillat 2-2-72.20
4 Dennis Timmers 2-2-15.05
5 Benoit Deziles 2-0-11.27
6 Martijn Egbers 2-0-8.50
One cushion:
1 Grégorie Le Deventec 2-4-6.85
2 Johann Petit 2-2-13.00
3 Ludger Havlik 2-2-9.35
4 Jos Bongers 2-2-8.57
5 Jacky Justice 2-1-7.74
6 Marek Faus 2-1-4.70.