BRANDENBURG AN DER HAVEL - The Swiss Xavier Gretillat, who has been among the top players in the balk-line and one cushion for many years, has finally won another major title. The first of two balk-line titles at the European championship was for the player who really deserved it. Gretillat triumphed in the final of 47/2 against the German home player Thomas Nockemann, who is Gretillat's teammate in the famous classic team of DBC Bochum.
The title he most desired, after three European gold medals in balk-line in the past, was a victory in one cushion. ,,I've lost four finals, including Frédéric Caudron and Wolfgang Zenkner'', Gretillat said. ,,This year, the Swiss was beaten in the final stage, Caudron and Gerassimopoulos played the final.
Xavier took his revenge in the 47/2, in which he was the European champion twice before. ,,That is a long time ago.'' His two titles in 47/2, Gretillat took in 2002 in Grubbenvorst (Netherlands) and 2004 in Hellemmes (France). Three years later, in 2007, he became champion in Athens in 71/2.
The Swiss specialist in the balk-lines already played a strong first round in three and four innings, then struggled to beat Sven Daske (250-194 in 10) and escaped in his match against Eddy Leppens in the semi-finals.
The Belgian seemed on his way to the finish in the second inning when he went to his chair after a 'restez dedans', which wasn't seen by the referee. Leppens stopped his run of 242 at 245 points (five points from the end). Gretillat came to the table and finished 250-245 in two innings.
Where a Belgian final seemed to be in the making, Patrick Niessen also stumbled in the semi-final over Thomas Nockemann, who won 250-185 in five innings.
In the final match, two teammates and friends opposed. Thomas Nockemann had shone a few times with major runs before, including a match in one inning. He only scored 23 points in three in the final: Gretillat closed the match with 177, then Nockemann missed the equalizer.
The averages of the top five:
1 Xavier Gretillat 52.27
2 Thomas Nockemann 58.73
3 Eddy Leppens 89.50
4 Patrick Niessen 52.25
5 Marek Faus 80.00.
Xavier Gretillat (left) shakes hands with Thomas Nockemann.