FIVB Men's Beach - Moscow, Russia Open
19-23 August 1998

EVENT SCHEDULE

 Aug. 19  Qualification Tournament
 Aug. 20  Qualification Tournament
 Aug. 21  Main Draw (40 matches)
 Aug. 22  Main Draw (18 matches)
 Aug. 23  Semi-finals & Finals (4 matches)

PRESS RELEASES

Sunday, August 23, 1998

The third and the last day of the Main Draw competitions at FIVB Winston Russia Open saw about 3,000 spectators who were not scared by a not-so-beach weather – it was 19 degrees C and rainy all day. However, the crowd wanted to catch the four main games of the event and see who would become the champions of this first Moscow beach volleyball event.

In the first semi-final Martniez-Conde from Argentina played against the Germans Ahmann-Hager. The German team tried hard to make it to the final but the Argentineans proved to be better prepared for the match and won 15-6 in 42 minutes.

The next semi-final featured the defending World Champions Para-Guilherme from Brazil and the Laciga brothers from Switzerland. The top seeded team of Para-Guilherme did what the public and the media expected by making quick way to the final. They won the match 15-5 in 47 minutes.

The bronze medal match was a tough one for players and provided great entertainment for the spectators. The German duo definitely were set to win, and Laciga brothers found it hard to oppose, though they did not give up. This intriguing and exciting game gave chances to both teams, but in the end Germans took the bronze medal with the final score of 15-11 in 53 minutes.

The last game of the competitions put both the attention and the emotional level of the crowd to the peak. Both the Argentinean team and the Brazilian team had their own armies of fans at the stadium who welcomed them on court and immediately started their "Go Brazil" and "Go Argentina" calls.

The first set was an easy ride for Para-Guilherme who won it 12-3. However, this poor start did not put Martinez-Conde on their knees. In the second set, Argentina showed both courage and drive, not to mention perfect blocking, diving and serving skills. The Argentineans won it 12-5. The third set and deciding set thrilled and excited the public even more than the first two sets. The score was tied at 7-7, and the public showed a great appreciation of the match. Finally, the Brazilians won the game 12-9 becoming the first ever Champions of the FIVB Russia World Tour Open. Argentina placed second, and Germany came third. The public did not leave after the final whistle but stayed to see the awarding ceremony and to congratulate both the players and the organizers for this fantastic beach volleyball event.

FINAL RANKING

Moscow, Russia Open, 21-23 August 1998

Rk. Players Country Points Prize (US$) Bonus (US$) 1 Para-Guilherme BRA 340 20,000.00 12,000.00 2 Martinez-Conde ARG 306 13,000.00 10,000.00 3 Ahmann-Hager GER 272 8,000.00 7,000.00 4 M.Laciga-P.Laciga SUI 238 6,000.00 6,000.00 5 Paulo Emilio-Paulão BRA 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 Kvalheim-Maaseide NOR 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 7 Seuseu-Eade NZL 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 Maia-Brenha POR 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 9 Pakosta-Dzavoronok CZE 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Bosma-Diez ESP 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Dieckmann Ch.-Dieckmann M. GER 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Kouchnerev-Karasev RUS 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 13 Zahner-Prosser AUS 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Boullianne-Ian Clark USA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Henkel-Wong USA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Sinjin Smith-Luyties USA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 17 Salema-Baracetti ARG 68 1,500.00 500.00 Anfilloff-Schacht AUS 68 1,500.00 500.00 Leitner-Stamm AUT 68 1,500.00 500.00 Fred-Jan BRA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Kubala-Palinek CZE 68 1,500.00 500.00 Jodard-Penigaud FRA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Lione-Ghiurghi ITA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Kjemperud-Hoidalen NOR 68 1,500.00 500.00 25 Guissart-Deulofeu FRA 34 1,000.00 400.00 Anton-Pomerenke GER 34 1,000.00 400.00 Jackson-Sotelo MEX 34 1,000.00 400.00 Dayanov-Sayfulin RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 Gorbenko-Ermichin RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 Kiselev-Kolesnik RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 M.Bouralev-Kojin RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00 Vesti-Egger M. SUI 34 1,000.00 400.00

MAIN DRAW RESULTS

Moscow, Russia Open, 21-23 August 1998

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Moscow, Russia Open, 21-23 August 1998

The Participating Teams

Main Draw (21-23August)