Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Jai Alai World Tour July 26-28 Wrap--Liguilla 3 Gernika Grand Slam; Liguilla 2 Hondarribia Grand Slam; Lekeitio Masters Semi-finals

The 6th Jai Alai World Tour began on July 7 and will end on September 27. The  Tour will consist of:

Two Grand Slams

Gernika--July 13, 20, 27, semis-August 3, FINAL-AUGUST 10
Hondarribia--July 19, 26, August 2, 9, semis-August 16, FINAL-AUGUST 23.

6 teams will contest the Grand Slams. They will consist of an "A" Group and a "B" Group which will play a single round robin. The top two in each group will face off in the Semi-finals. The two winners will then play in the Final.

Three Master Series

Markina: Quarter finals--July 7; Semi-finals--July 14, FINAL--JULY 16
Lekeitio: Semi-finals--July 28; FINAL--AUGUST 4
Zumia: 1/4--September 6, 13; 1/2--September 20; FINAL--SEPTEMBER 27

There may be other Master series as well. The full schedule is still "pending."

JAWT Announcement

JAWT brochure (.pdf format,9p.)

Complete (at present) calendar (JAWT)

Ongoing results (JAWT)

JAWT Players Page

Due to the manner in which the Masters and Grand Slams will be intertwined, as well as the chronological length of the Grand Slams, the blog will cover this tour in weekly increments, mixing tournaments. The latest scores and links to match stories can be found either on the right side of any blog post, or at the Current Results page, which is also used to show current results on mobile phones (and can also be found with the "pages" on the right side of  the blog).

An up to date player table is always available at the "current results" page, and a cumulative table will be presented at the bottom of each blog post.

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July 7-16--Markina Masters (complete); Gernika Grand Slam (League)

July 19-20 Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (League); Mutriku Open Independent Match

July 26-28--Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (League); Lekeitio Masters (Semi-finals)

August 2-4--Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (Semi-Finals), Lekeitio Masters (Final and 3rd Place match)

August 9-16--Gernika Grand Slam (Final); Hondarribia Grand Slam (League) and Semi-finals 

August 20-October 28--END OF SEASON--Hondarribia Final, Zumaia Masters, Ciudad San Sebastian Open, Gernika Urriko Open

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INJURY REPORT:

July 28, 2019

Mikel Egiguren: For Egiguren the stress of having played 2 matches in 3 days (July 25 in the Cesta Punta World Tour Master 2 Final, and July 27 in the Jai Alai World Tour Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match), along with the prospect of playing in the 1st Semi-Final of the CPWT Master 3 Tournament on July 30, led to his dropping out of the Leikeitio Masters Semi-final on July 28.

July 27, 2019

Txabi Inza: After playing twice in 3 days (July 23 and 25 in the Semi-final and Final of the CPWT Master 2 Tournament), Inza was unable to play in the 3rd Round Liguilla match of the Gernika Grand Slam. He was replaced by (Aimar) Aldazabal. I have found no information about the reason for his absence or any timetable for his return.

July 26, 2019

Diego Beaskoetxea: Beaskoetxea was unable to play in his Hondarribia League match with Minvielle v Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi on June 26. According to the JAWT story (the same story for all matches), he decided to skip the June 26 Hondarribia Grand Slam League match in order to be more physically fit for the Gernika Grand Slam League match on July 27. He was replaced by Ludovic Laduche. Beaskoetxea did play (and win) his League 3 Gernika match on July 27.

July 20, 2019

Nicolas Etxeto: Etxeto suffered an abdominal injury ("un pinchazo en la cintura") in warm-ups for his Round 2 Liguilla match in the Gernika Grand Slam. He played through it for one set but then could go no further. How long he will be out of action is unknown at this time. 

July 13, 2019

(Unai) Lekerika: Lekerika suffered a "cintura" (waist) injury in his July 13 opening Liguilla Group A match in the Gernika Grand Slam competition. He was unable to play in his Markina Masters semi-final match with Arbe v Erik (Mendizabal)-Irastorza on July 14. He was replaced by Ekhi. Lekerika returned to action, partnering with Goikoetxea on July 27 in their Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match.

July 7, 2019

Jean Olharan: Olharan missed his Quarter final match in the Master Series Markina, still feeling the effects of the shoulder injury he played through at Fronton Mexico in the Moises Cosio Gomez Copa Premier League Final on June 30. When he will return to action is unknown at this time

Ludovic Laduche: Laduche (who suffered a severe tendon injury in the April 26, 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Pro-Am Final. He missed the entire Fronton Mexico season and returned as a substitute for Olharan in the Master Series Markina on July 7. For more on Laduche's injury, including full match video of the match he was injured in, check the NEWS AND INJURY ARCHIVE OF THIS BLOG. Inujuries are listed under obituaries and news items, in reverse chronological order. Modalities are mixed together.

Matches are played in sets, two to 15. Tie breaker to 5. 5 pasas (over serves) are allowed. After that an over serve is a fault. Any under serve is an immediate fault (Error corrected August 3, 2019).

Grand Slam Gerrnika Liguilla matches; Hondarribia Liguilla Matches, Lekeitio Masters Semi-finals

Grand Slam Gernika (1) (2)

This is a 6 team competition with 3 teams in Group A and 3 in Group B. There will be a single round robin in each group with the winners playing in a final.

The teams:

Group A: Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika; Erik (Mendizabal)-Etxeto; Hormatxea-Ibon (Aldazabal)

Group B: Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez; (Xabier) Barandika-Ekhi; Egiguren-Inza

Feature article on Diego Beaskoetxea's retiement from Jai  Alai in the US and return to the Basque Country (Deia)

July 27

A very important variable is seeping into the JAWT competition. An alarming number of players are either injured or are choosing not to play in multiple matches within a short period of time. We saw some of this happening at Fronton Mexico in June, when the burden of multiple matches in a short time span took its toll at the end. It is perhaps not unexpected. Most of these players are veterans of many campaigns, both Partido and Quiniela. Many are on the other side of 35. Hopefully the ones who are injured will come back soon. And the ones who are missing matches to preserve themselves will come back all that much stronger. One player who is getting a lot of experience at a new position is (Aimar) Aldazabal. He is a 36 year old veteran who is making the switch from front court to back. He has held his own so far, and is getting more and more chances to do so. As of this week, he has played in 7 JAWT matches. 

Interestingly, the two stalwarts, still the best in the world at age 35 and 38 respectively, Lopez and Goikoetxea, the Champions of Fronton Mexico after playing a demanding schedule there, have not missed a beat in these competitions. Goikoetxea, all told, on both sides of the Pyrenees, has played 8 matches, if I am not mistaken. He played 5 in 6 days (July 22, 23, 25, 26, 27). Lopez has played 6 so far, and played on July 26, 27, and 28. They both have pretty full schedules, assuming they keep winning. On top of being the best players, that they are able to keep playing at this level is astonishing.

FINAL Group A Table (Liguilla wins-losses, set wins-losses (.3 assigned for a tie breaker))

Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika (2-0; 3.3-1)

Hormaetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) (1-1; 1-2)

Erik (Mendizabal)-Etxeto (0-2; 1-2.3)

Erik (Mendizaba)l-Etxeto are eliminated

Goikoetxea-Lekerika move on to Semi-finals

Hormaetxea-Ibon move on to Semi-finals

Both July 27 League matches are available on demand at EITB. The Diego-Lopez v Barandika-Ekhi is the first match. Goikoetxea-Lekerika v Hormaetxea-Ibon is the second match. NOTE: PLEASE BE PATIENT WHEN ACCESSING EITB FULL MATCH VIDEOS. IF THEY DON'T COME IN AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE, LOOK FOR AN ARROW AT THE TOP LEFT OF THE SCREEN AND CLICK ON IT. OR, IT MIGHT SHOW UP AS AN ICON ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. CLICK ON THE ICON FARTHEST TO THE LEFT. IF ALL ELSE FAILS TRY

EITB On Demand

"Buscar" (upper right corner) "zesta punta" (without the quotes). May be easier to access, but you still might have to tweak as above. Your patience will be well rewarded. 

Highlights are also available (EITB) (these should come in automatically)

Group A

July 27

Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika 2

Hormaetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) 0

(15-8, 15-10) (30-18)

Selected linescores (Jai Alai News Facebook) (winners always listed first)

Set 1

6-2; 7-3; 8-4; 10-6; 15-8

Set 2

7-7; 15-10

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

FINAL Group B Table

Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez (2-0; 3.3-1)

(Xabier) Barandika-Ekhi (1-1; 3-1.3)

Egiguren-Inza (0-2; 0-4)

Egiguren-Inza are eliminated

Barandika-Ekhi move on to Semi-finals.

Diego-Lopez move on to Semi-finals

Group B

Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez 2

Egiguren-(Aimar) Aldazabal (substituting for Inza) 0

(15-4, 15-10) (30-14)

Selected linescore (Jai Alai News Facebook) (winners always listed first)

Set 1:

9-1; 15-4

Set 2:

3-0; 9-1; 11-2; 14-10; 15-10

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

Both League matches were disappointing due to the lack of competitive sets. Outside of a spirited 2nd set comeback (an 8-3 run) by Egiguren, both matches were runaways, although each point, with players of this quality, is worth watching. Now comes a Semi-final schedule that would seem to be set up for a great final between Goikoetxea-Lekerika and Beaskoetxea-Lopez. But nothing is set in stone. We should be in for some excellent Jai Alai/Cesta Punta. 

UPCOMING: (SOURCE: JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR CARTELERA)

SEMI-FINALS

AUGUST 3

GOIKOETXEA-(UNAI) LEKERIKA (GROUP A #1, 2-0; 3.3-1) v

(XABIER) BARANDIKA-EKHI (GROUP B #2; 1-1; 3-1.3)

DIEGO (BEASKOETXEA)-LOPEZ (GROUP B #1; 2-0; 3.3-1) v

HORMAETXEA-IBON (ALDAZABAL) (GROUP a #2; 1-1; 1-2)

AUGUST 10

FINAL

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Grand Slam Hondarribia (Fronton Jostaldi) (1) (2) (3)

July 26

Liguilla 2

Group A Round 2 Table

Goikoetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) (1-0; 2-0)

Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi (1-0; 2-0)

Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Minvielle; 0-2; 0-4

Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Minvielle are eliminated

July 26

Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi 2

Laduche (substituting for Diego (Beaskoetxea))-Minvielle 0

(15-13, 15-9) (30-22)

(Jai Alai World Tour Resultados)

Group B Round 2 Table

Egiguren-Lopez (1-0; 2-0)

Olha-Etcheto (0-1; 0-2)

(Jon) Zulaika-? (0-0; 0-0)

July 26

Egiguren-Lopez 2 Olha-(Aimar) Aldazabal (substituting for Etxeto) 0

(15-13, 15-14) (30-27)

(Jai Alai World Tour Resultados)

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

We have little information about the Hondarribia Grand Slam, except to say that it looks as if Goikoetxea and Lopez are beginning to position themselves for a dominant run in this Tournament as well. Erik (Mendizabal) is making his presence known also. 

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Lekeitio Masters

Lekeitio (1) (2)

July 28

Semi-finals

Erik (Mendizabal)-Ibon (Aldazabal) 2

(Xabier) Barandika-(Unai) Lekerika 1

(9-15, 15-14, 5-1) (29-30)

(Jon) Zulaika-Lopez 2

Hormaetxea-Aimar (Aldazabal) (substituting for Egiguren-Etxeto) 1

(15-10, 12-15, 5-1) (32-26)

Match article for both matches (Jai Alai News Facebook)

Match article for both matches (Jai Alai World Tour)

These were two tough, competitive matches, where the "Dania contingent" (Erik, Ibon, Barandika, Leke, and Zulaika) all played well.  Lopez did OK also, guaranteeing himself yet one more Final. One entire team of semi-finalists was unable to play. 

Current JAWT rankings

Rankings explanation (see #8 and #9)

Cumulative record of JAWT players

Key: Player, match w-l, set w-l (5 pt. tie breaker worth .3) Tournaments won. Current through July 28, 2019

MM-Markina Masters

Delanteros (front)

(Jon) Zulaika; 2-0; 3.3-1

Erik (Mendizabal); 4-2; 8.3-3.3 MM

Diego (Beaskoetxea); 2-1; 3.3-3

Goikoetxea; 3-2; 6.3-4.3

Hormaetxea; 3-3; 5.3-6.3

(Jokin) Arbe; 1-1; 2-2

Egiguren; 1-2; 2-4

(Xabier) Barandika; 1-3; 4-4.6

Olha; 0-1; 0-2

Laduche; 0-2; 0-4

Zagueros (back)

Lopez; 4-0; 6.6-2

Irastorza; 2-0; 4-0; MM

(Unai) Lekerika; 3-1; 6.3-2.3

Ibon (Aldazabal) 3-2; 5.3-4.3

Ekhi; 2-2; 5-3.3

(Aimar) Aldazabal; 3-4; 6.3-8.3

Etxeto 0-2; 1-2.3

Minvielle; 0-2; 0-4

Inza; 0-2; 0-4

Salegi; 0-2; 0-4