DAY 6: EC CADRE 71/2, DOUBLE GOLD FOR RAYMUND SWERTZ IN CERVERA
The final day of this exciting classic games marathon in Cervera has arrived.
The last European Championship in Cervera had today its new king, crowned in a venue competely filled with many billiard lovers.
After the gold medal in 47/2 and a bronze in 1-Cushion, Raymund Swertz (NL) took home another gold in the 71/2 discipline.
It's the fourth gold for Swertz who already won in 71/2 three times: in 2013, 2015 and 2019.
No way for the Belgian Patrick Niessen to resist in the final match, 200-39 in 3 innings the final score. Niessen was awarded with a silver medal. Bronze medals for Benoit Legros (France) and Esteve Mata (Spain).
Earlier today Raymund Swertz won Xavier Gretillat in the quarters final in one inning (200-0) and Benoit Legros in the semifinals in 4 innings (200-12). Raymund Swertz daily average today was 75,00.
The road of Patrick Niessen to the final was more complicated. He successfully defeated the Spanish strong resistance of Raul Cuenca in the quarters final and Esteve Mata in the semifinals. Curiously Niessen won both matches by the same score: 200-174, in 7 innings for Cuenca and 6 for Mata.
Highest runs of 200 points in the KO rounds were scored by Swertz against Gretillat and by Legros against Arnim Kahofer.
Best overall average: Raul Cuenca 41,92.
Overall Medals ranking of the European Championships Classics:
Netherlands: 2 gold, 1 bronze
Austria: 1 gold, 1 bronze
Belgium: 2 silver
France: 1 silver, 2 bronze
Spain: 2 bronze
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
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Photos: Morgan Delame/Kozoom and Xavi Santesmasses
DAY 5: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP BALKLINE 71/2: LAST 8 ARE DECIDED IN CERVERA
The last one of the three championships started today in Cervera, the Spanish home of classic disciplines.
The qualification groups of the European Championship Cadre 71/2 are just finished and the last 8 are now determined.
Group A: Spaniard Esteve Mata won this group with 6 match points (avg. 37,50). The other 3 competitors finished with 2 match points each. Marek Faus (CZ) is the runner up qualified to the last 8 because of the best average.
Group B: French Benoit Legros won this group with 3 victories. Raul Cuenca (Spain) is the runner up with 2 victories.
Group C: Patrick Niessen (BE) and Xavier Gretillat (CH) both qualified with 4 match points. Niessen has a better average thus won this group.
Group D: Raymund Swertz (NL) won this group with 6 match points, Arnim Kahofer (AT) is the runner up with 4 match points.
Esteve Mata is the leader of the qualification ranking with 6 match points and avg 37,50.
Raul Cuenca was the only one to close a match in one inning so far (150 points) and he also scored the best general average (61,83).
Quarters final, live on Kozoom tomorrow morning at 9.30:
1-8 Mata - Faus
4-5 Niessen - Cuenca
3-6 Swertz - Gretillat
2-7 Legros - Kahofer
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom is broadcasting all the matches.
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DAY 4: CERVERA: RAYMUND SWERTZ TAKES THE GOLD IN 47/2
The second European Championship in Cervera goes into the archives. Today it was the final day of the balkline 47/2.
The Dutch Raymund Swertz gets the gold medal, the third one in his career in this discipline. He won the gold before in 2013 and 2022.
In the quarters final he won Frenchman Willy Gerimont in 2 innings then defeated Spaniard Esteve Mata in the semifinals in 4 innings.
He needed only 1 inning in the final match against Patrick Niessen (Belgium) who got a silver medal. Niessen won Arnim Kahofer (Austria) in the semifinals in 2 innings and Michel Van Silfhout (Netherlands) in 3 innings in the quarters final.
Bronze medals were awarded to Esteve Mata for Spain and Arnim Kahofer for Austria.
Kahofer and Swertz added two more matches in one inning to the records of this competition, these played to the 250 points distance, in the KO rounds.
Swertz played this whole championship with a general average of 94,92, the highest.
Tomorrow morning at 9.30 the show will continue with the qualification rounds of the Balkline 71/2 championship.
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom is broadcasting all the matches.
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DAY 3: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP BALKLINE 47/2: QUARTERS FINAL ARE SERVED.
The qualification groups of the Balkline 47/2 championship have been held today in Cervera.
The four group winners all finished with full score: 3 victories and 6 match points.
Esteve Mata, Patrick Niessen, Raul Cuenca and Willy Gerimont finished in the top four position of the qualification ranking respectively with 8, 9, 10 and 13 innings used for the 600 points scored.
Group winners and runners up qualified to quarters final:
Group A: Raul Cuenca and Arnim Kahofer
Group B: Patrick Niessen and Raymund Swertz
Group C: Esteve Mata and Sven Daske
Group D: Willy Gerimont and Michel Van Silfhout
Five players closed a match in only 1 inning: Esteve Mata, Raul Cuenca, Willy Gerimont, Raymund Swertz and Xavier Gretillat. Swertz also scored the best general average so far: 96,50.
Quarters finals:
1-8 Mata (ES) vs Daske (DE)
4-5 Gerimont (FR) vs Swertz (NL)
3-6 Cuenca (ES) vs Kahofer (AT)
2-7 Niessen (BE) vs Van Silfhout (NL)
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom is broadcasting all the matches.
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DAY 2: FIRST MEDALS AWARDED IN CERVERA: THE NEW 1-CUSHION CHAMPION IS ARNIM KAHOFER (AUSTRIA).
The first medals were awarded today in Cervera, Spain.
The Austrian Arnim Kahofer is the new European Champion 1-Cushion. He won the final against Xavier Leroy (France) by 120-107 in 19 innings. It's the first gold in this discipline for Arnim who got a silver medal in Paiporta in 2022 and a bronze in Brandenburg in 2015.
Earlier in quarter finals Arnim Kahofer defeated Joan Espinasa by 120-77 in 10 innings and Willy Gerimont won the title holder Raul Cuenca 120-94 in 15. The Dutch challenge between Raymund Swertz and Jean-Paul De Bruijn was win by the first one by 120-83 in 12.
Last quarter final match was a draw to the 120 points of the regular distance between Esteve Mata and Xavier Leroy. In the extension Mata missed the opening shot and Xavier Leroy made the only required point to advance into the semifinals.
In semifinals Xavier Leroy defeated Raymund Swertz by 120-102 in 10 innings, while on the other table Arnim Kahofer won Willy Gerimont by 120-75 in 9 innings.
Raymund Swertz (NL) and Willy Gerimont (FR) took home a bronze medal.
Tomorrow morning at 9.30 the European Championship Balkline 47/2 will start with the qualification groups.
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom is broadcasting all the matches.
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Photos: Kozoom
DAY 1: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 1-CUSHION: QUARTERS FINAL DECIDED IN CERVERA.
The first daily session dedicated to 1-Cushion just ended in Cervera.
The groups winners and the runners up have been determined after the group games.
Group A: Xavier Leroy and Raul Cuenca
Group B: Jean-Paul De Bruijn and Arnim Kahofer
Group C: Joan Espinasa and Raymund Swertz
Group D: Willy Gerimont and Esteve Mata
Spaniard Joan Espinasa is the leader of the qualification ranking (6-13,63-48) followed by Xavier Leroy from France (6-8,10-45).
Best avg so far by Joan Espinasa (13,63), best match by Esteve Mata and Willy Gerimont (they draw a match to 100 points in 5 innings, Mata also scored 100 in 5 against Xavier Gretillat ), highest run by Mata (57).
Quarters final are set for tomorrow morning at 9.30.
Joan Espinasa vs Arnim Kahofer
Willy Gerimont vs Raul Cuenca
Jean-Paul De Bruijn vs Raymund Swertz
Xavier Leroy vs Esteve Mata
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom is broadcasting all the matches.
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THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS CLASSICS IN CERVERA, SPAIN.
All is ready in the Billiard Section of the Casal de Cervera for the coming up European Championships in classic disciplines, organized by the club of Cervera and the Royal Spanish Billiard Federation, under the auspices of the CEB.
Cervera has had many players and followers in classic disciplines and has been the Spanish reference club in these disciplines, as shown in the last 20 years. 8 Spanish national championships have been held in Cervera in classic disciplines, furthermore Cervera hosted many international events like the World Championship 1-Cushion in 2009 and several European Championships in 1-cushion and 71/2 in the first two decades of this century. On the occasion of these three European Championships the club months ago bought 4 new billiard tables and completely remodeled its facilities.
It will be now the time of three top level competition: the first one will be the European Championship 1-Cushion from April 30th to May 1st, the second will be the European Championship Balkline 47/2 from May 2nd to 3rd, the last one to take place will be European Championship Balkline 71/2, from May 4th to 5th.
The game format is the same for the 3 events: 16 athletes are divided in four groups of four playing round-robin. The first two of each group will advance to the direct elimination rounds. First day of each championship is dedicated to groups and the second day the KO stage will be played. A total of 22 athletes will join the 3 championships, representing 10 national federations. The 3 events will be played on Simonis Rapid cloths and Aramith Tournament balls.
The defending champions are:
Raul Cuenca (1-Cushion, Spain)
Marek Faus (Balkline 47/2 and 71/2, Czech Republic)
All details are available on the dedicated CEB info page: 1-Cushion, Balkline 47/2, Balkline 71/2.
Kozoom will broadcast all the matches.
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Photos: Xavi Santesmasses
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