The 23rd Super Prestige, an EP 2000 tournament, was played at the cathedral of Main Nue,
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port's (Donibane Garazi) "Le Garat"(1)(2), from November 28, 2016-January 22, 2017. This was a seeded singles
tournament, with 2 matches each Monday. The tournament was played
in knockout fashion with 4 "tours", followed by two semi-finals and a
final (played on a Sunday). Seeding in one bracket (from low to high) was: Guichandut, X. Lambert, Bilbao, and Larralde. And in the other
bracket: Ospital, de Ezcurra, Waltary, and Ducassou. The seeding can be
seen graphically here
2015 SP results
The tournament was organized by Garaziko Pilota (Societe Sportive Goizeko Izarra)
Tournament Competition page
Pelotelive.free.fr competition page
Tour 1 (November 28, 2016)
Tour 2 (December 5, 2016)
Tour 3 (December 12, 2016)
Tour 4 (December 19, 2016)
Semi-Finals (December 26, 2016)
January 22, 2017
Final
Larralde defeated Ducassou 40-31.
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article with player interviews (Esku Pilota)
Match article with photos (francebleu.fr)
Match statistics, including equalities and decade linescores (Source: H. Ocafrain via Esku Pilota spreadsheet).
Equalities: 1-1; 4-4; 5-5; 6-6; 7-7; 12-12
Decade linescores (winner always listed 1st).
5-5; 8-12; 17-13; 23-17; 27-23; 32-28; 39-31
Time of the match: 1 hour, 11 minutes, 15 seconds. Actual playing time: 26:23
Scoring:
Larralde +33 (2 service aces, 5 egindatukoak, 2 xareat, 7 pumpa xare, 3 ziloat, 4 dejadez, 2 buruzgain, 3 motz, 5 izkin motz,) -8 (including 1 service fault)
Ducassou +23 (6 service aces, 3 egindatukoak, 7 xareat, 2 pumpa xare, 2 dejadez, 1 buruzgain, 2 motz) -7 (including 1 service fault).
In a match that was delayed 2 weeks because of a hand injury to Ducassou, Larralde defended the championship he won last year against the same opponent (40-26), this time 40-31. A lead built in the 3rd and 4th decades, whittled away in the 5th and 6th, and then extended decisively in the 7th, led to the victory. Including last year's FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro Individual (40-22), Larralde has now defeated Ducassou in the last 3 singles finals they have played. Both players are seeded into the "Liguilla" phase of the FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro Individual (A), and will be playing in that tournament beginning on January 29 and 30, 2017. Larralde will play at Saint Palais on January 29. Ducassou will play at Le Garat on January 30. They could face each other again in mid-February.
For cumulative records of Main Nue elite professionals see the "Cumulative records of EP players" on the recurring results page on the right side of the blog.
