SERVERA – The famous European balkline and one cushion players are showing up in Cervera, Spain, this week for the European championships in the classical disciplines. For six days, starting today, Tuesday, Kozoom is broadcasting all matches in the disciplines of one cushion, balkline 47/2 and 71/2. The top favorites are Raymund Swertz, Raul Cuenca, Arnim Kahofer, Willy Gérimont, Patrick Niessen, Xavier Gretillat and Marek Faus.
The matches started Tuesday at 9.30 am with the first rounds in one cushion. The tournament ends this Sunday, June 1, with the final in balkline 71/2. There are 16 players in each discipline divided into four groups.
The Spanish host country is represented by three players: Raul Cuenca, Esteve Mata and Joan Espinasa. The Dutch are making a bid for the podium spots with five players: Raymund Swertz, Gert-Jan Veldhuizen, Michel van Silfhut, Lyon Megens and Micha van Bochem. The Belgians are putting in Patrick Niessen and Peter De Backer, while the French are playing with Willy Gérimont and Xavier Leroy.
The defending champions are Raymund Swertz in 47/2 and 71/2 and Arnim Kahofer in the strip. Wildcards in the three disciplines have been handed out to Joan Espinasa (bandstoten), Raul Cuenca (47/2) and Esteve Mata (71/2).
Dutchman Raymund Swertz is one of the top favorites in the three disciplines, especially in the balkline games, where he will face Patrick Niessen, Raul Cuenca, Marek Faus and Xavier Gretillat, among others, as his main competitors. The Austrian Arnim Kahofer, in the best form of his life, is ready for an attack on his position as European champion in the strip.
The organization is in the hands of the European billiards federation CEB. The sports director is Mr Sergi Garriga, the European delegate Carlos Borrell.
The prizes for the winners are:
1: €2000
2: €1000
3 and 4: €750.
The disciplines and players:
One cushion:
Group A:
Arnim Kahofer (Austria), Carlos Marques (Luxembourg), Willy Gérimont (France), Jon Espinasa (Spain)
Group B:
Xavier Leroy (France), Nikolas Gérassimopoulos (Greece), Miroslav Baca (Czech Republic), Peter De Backer (Belgium)
Group C: Raul Cuenca (Spain), Patrick Niessen (Belgium), Otto Lipscher (Hungary), Gert-Jan Veldhuizen (Netherlands)
Group D: Raymund Swertz (Netherlands), Xavier Gretillat (Switzerland), Esteve Mata (Spain), Michael Hikl (Austria).
The title holder Arnim Kahofer in one cushion
Balkline 47/2:
Group A: Raymund Swertz, Willy Gérimont, Nikolas Gerassimopoulos, Michael Hikl
Group B: Patrick Niessen, Raul Cuenca, Michel van Silfhout (Netherlands), Arnd Riedel (Germany)
Group C: Esteve Mata, Marek Faus (Czech Republic), Carlos Marques, Lyon Megens (Netherlands)
Group D:
Arnim Kahofer, Xavier Gretillat, Christian Pöther (Germany), Joan Espinasa
Two Belgians, Peter De Backer and Patrick Niessen in the field
Balkline 71/2
Group A: Raymund Swertz, Nikolas Gerassimopoulos, Esteve Mata, Micha van Bochem (the Netherlands)
Group B: Patrick Niessen, Willy Gérimont, Michel van Silfhout, Michael Hikl
Group C: Raul Cuenca, Marek Faus, Carlos Marques, Gert-Jan Veldhuizen
Group D: Arnim Kahofer, Xavier Gretillat, Joan Espinasa, Christian Pöther.
Raul Cuenca from the home land Spain