Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Eric Irastorza finishes his carreer at Maimi Jai Alai--Nicholas Eyheragary (Yeche) injured in traffic accident

1. Eric Irastorza finished his 18 year American Quiniela Jai Alai career, leaving Miami Jai Alai on  January 15, 2017.  He began his American career in 1999. His long career and many championships in the states and the Basque Country are chronicled in a Jai Alai News Facebook article (auto-translate may be available). Last Spring, he won Miami Jai Alai's triple crown (most wins, singles championship, and doubles championship).

2. Dania's back court player Yeche (Nicolas Eyheragaray) recently suffered a fractured leg in a traffic accident. He will be lost to Dania Jai Alai for about 6 months. He recently played in and won the Master 4 Championship (with Alex Hormaetxea) of the 2016 Internationaux Cesta Punta competition.

Jai Alai News Facebook page article (auto translate may be available).

Main Nue--FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro Individuel--Results of January 21, 2017

The Main Nue Individuel Elite Pro Championnat de France A and B competition is sponsored by the  Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque (FFPB). The competition began on December 23, 2016 and will end on February 20, 2017. You can follow its progress here.  Pelotelive.free.fr also provides A and B coverage. The tournament is a seeded ladder tournament.

* not listed on the Esku Pilota player pages at this time.

The A group consists of Antton Amulet, Philippe Bielle, Bixintxo Bilbao, Pascal de Ezcurra, Baptiste Ducassou, Peio Guichandut, Ximun Lambert, Peio Larralde, Matheiu Ospital, and Agusti Waltary. The seeds, from low to high are: Amulet and Ospital (1/8), Bilbao and Waltary (Quarter-finals), and Larralde and Ducassou ("Liguilla").

The B group consists of Gregory Aguirre, Jean-Philippe Benesse, Mickael Darmendrail, Vincent Elgart, Julien Etchegaray, Alexis Inchauspe, Laurent Lambert, Cedric Lucu, Alain Migueltorena, Antton Monce, Mattin Olcomendy*, and Mickael Palomes. The seeds, from low to high are: Darmendrail and L. Lambert (1/8), Palomes and Inchauspe (Quarter-finals), and Elgart and Monce ("Liguilla"). Note: Benesse was added to the Esku Pilota player pages sometime in January 2017.

The "Liguilla" phase is a round robin among the top 4 finishers (two who win their way in and two who are seeded in) which will determine the finalists.

Article describing the competition (Esku Pilota)

December 23 2016-January 2, 2017;    January 6, 2017;  January 9, 2017;   January 14, 2017;  January 16, 2017 ;  January 20, 2017

January 21, 2017

Villefranque (1)(2)(3)

 A5: Bilbao defeated Guichandut 40-34

Preview article  (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article, along with an audio interview with Bilbao (Esku Pilota)

Selected linescore (winner always listed first) (source: match articles above)

10-5; 12-6; 15-6; 19-12; 20-12; 21-13; 25-19; 26-19; 30-22; 33-23; 35-23; 39-29; 39-34; 40-34

Bilbao was in control throughout, building up a 9 point lead in the first half  of the match, maintaining it until almost the end, and then holding off a late Guichandut charge. Guichandut, who had beaten Amulet at Arcangues on January 6 after trailing 33-38 and 35-39, was hoping for another great finish. Both match articles mention that Bilbao has a new coach (Philippe Carricart). Bilbao moves on to the Liguilla phase of the tournament.

Bilbao will first face Larralde (seeded into the tournament at this level)  at historic Saint Palais (0:12-0:24 on the video if your device doesn't parse the section) on January 29, 2017.

 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.