2006 World Championships   More World Championship news       Tournament info: France & Italy

Eight European teams play for four finals spots this weekend

Le Cannet, France, July 28, 2005 – France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Finland will play for two World Championship final round tickets when the 2006 Men’s World Championship third round tournament – Europe Pool K starts on Thursday in Le Cannet. Italy, Spain, Germany and the Ukraine will play for another two vacancies when the 2006 Men’s World Championship third round tournament – Europe Pool I starts on Friday in Napoli, Italy. The two top place getters from each tournament will advance to the final round.

The groups are the last two of four European third round tournaments being played this month where the top two sides from each tournament claim final round tickets (since Europe has nine vacancies in the final round in Japan). The third placed side in each tournament will enter a four-way play-off for one remaining ticket.

In Le Cannet, France (ranked sixth in the world) and the Netherlands (13th) are favourites with the Czech Republic (24th) and Finland (32nd) both having advanced from the second round.

Each team will play each other over three days with two games per day and by the end of Saturday we will have our two winners and the playoff team.

In Napoli the contest should be tighter. Italy (second in the world) are hot favourites but Spain (21st) and Germany (25th), who advanced from the second round, were expected to fight out a tough battle for the other final round ticket. The Ukraine (38th) will be trying to pull off the incredible having advanced from the second round.

The competition in Napoli starts on Friday and finishes Sunday with each team playing each other over three days with two games per day.