by Ian Marshall, Editor

Switzerland’s Thomas Rosenast and Valentin Kneuss, the top seeds, finished in third place in their group; top spot being secured by the Nordic partnership of Sweden’s Jonas Hansson and Denmark’s Rasmus Hansen.

Similarly, for the combination of Japan’s Kazuya Kaneko and Colombia’s José Vargas, the no.2 seeds, it was a day to forget; fourth position was their lot, first place being secured by the Russian formation of Vladimir Anikanov and Ukraine’s Bogdan Omelchuk.

Likewise, there was an upset in Class 6. Chile’s Mattias Pino in harness with Frenchman, Esteban Herault the top seeds, remained unbeaten to reserve first place but there was defeat for the next in line. Great Britain’s Martin Perry and Israel’s Asaf Gofer experienced a two-nil reverse at the hands of the combination formed by Poland’s Alawomir Brak and Russia’s Mars Gabdullin; notably Alawomir Brak and Mars Gabdullin duly remained unbeaten to top the group.

Surprises, there was also a somewhat of an unexpected outcome in Class 10. The Spanish trio comprising José Ruiz, Jorge Cardona and Marlon Lopez, the top seeds, finished in first position in their group, as did Indonesia’s David Jacobs and Komet Akbar, the no.2 seeds. Both outfits duly progressed safely to the semi-finals. Similarly, Frenchmen Mateo Boheas and Benoît Grasset, the no.3 seeds, secured first position in their group and duly advanced to the penultimate round.

However, for Japan’s Nariaki Kakita and Naoya Nagashita, the fourth seeds, it was a different outcome. They clinched first place in their group but experienced a two matches to one quarter-final defeat at the hands of the partnership formed by Denmark’s Martin Nielsen and Italy’s Lorenzo Cordua.

Otherwise, the leading outfits progressed unhindered.

In Class 8, the top four pairs all advanced to the semi-finals. The top seeded Ukraine trio formed by Viktor Didukh, Ivan Mai and Maksym Nikolenko progressed as did the next in the order of merit Thomas Bouvais and Elias Debeyssac of France. Similarly, Belgium’s Marc Ledoux and Great Britain’s Billy Shilton, the third seeds, reserved their place in the last four; a feat also achieved by Russia’s Artem Iakolev and Aleksei Saunin, the fourth seeds.

Meanwhile, in Class 9 organised on a group basis, Hungary’s Dezso Bereczki and Gyula Zborai, the top seeds, remained unbeaten as did the second seeded combination of Ukraine’s Lev Kats and Bart Van Der Zanden of the Netherlands.

Similarly, in Class 11, the category for players with a learning disability, matters also administered using the group formula; Hungary’s Peter Palos and Turkey’s Garip Olcas remained unbeaten, a situation that applied also to Japan’s Ryo Miyauchi and Toshiya Tokahashi.

Play at the 2018 Spanish Para Open closes on Sunday 18th November.

2018 Spanish Para Open: Latest Results and Main Event Draws