Stefano Fontana Dominates the Badoglio Cup
There was great anticipation for the first edition of the Badoglio Cup billiards tournament, and the event certainly delivered at the Jalisse Arena in San Fiorano, a neighborhood of the charming town of Villasanta, located just outside Monza—a town that has produced world-class soccer players such as Silvano Villa, Filippo Galli, and, more recently, Gabriele Zappa.
Nine players participated in the tournament, which began significantly behind schedule due to difficulties in finding a decent format for the event: a heated debate ensued, and even the use of the Pythagorean Theorem, proposed by someone, did not help. The odd—but not prime—number ultimately led to the decision to form three groups of three: the three group winners and the best runner-up would advance to the semifinals.
Right from the start, the host proved to be in top form: Jalisse easily won his group, eliminating an Ing. who was rattled by having to play darts at the same time, and a Mario Fagnani who was considered the favorite but was still shaken by the outcome of the recent tournament at the Inter Club Villasanta, where he finished in second place: his performance was also affected by a cork that had somehow become lodged in one of his fingers.
Predictions were largely confirmed in the Bassani-Rolla-Ronchi group, with Bassani easily defeating the Real Villasanta fans’ favorite, who seemed distracted by the imminent—and mysterious—away game in Veneto, as well as the green-and-white team manager, who made a few questionable shots with his cue but proved more effective with darts. There were, however, some murky aspects regarding what happened in the third group, with Tana (Stefano Fontana, ed.) confident in his abilities and an easy winner over an inconsistent Korno—who had been repêchaged thanks to an incredible 57-12 victory over Danilo, who knocked down pins as if he were at the Oktoberfest in Munich: a match worthy of an investigative report that lasted less time than a cat on the Tangenziale. Some appeals were immediately sent via email, but Outlook was unwisely used, so they will be reviewed in a couple of months.
The semifinals were thrilling, with Jalisse returning to his usual form but proving easy prey for Tana, and an increasingly convincing Korno who, with a shot reminiscent of one seen on Rai Sport in the ’90s—though entirely unintentional—beat Bassani in a sprint finish.
The final was a one-sided affair despite Korno’s repeated attempts to hit both the red and white balls in an effort to confuse Tana and limit his overwhelming dominance: it ended with a landslide victory for the former goalkeeper of Real Villasanta, now an executive, who was awarded two bottles kindly donated by Cantine Vitea, the winery in Montù Beccaria, in the Oltrepò Pavese region, owned by winemaker and golfer Antonio Faravelli, a great enthusiast of all kinds of sports.
“I’m very happy; it was a very challenging tournament in which all my rivals gave me a run for my money. I can’t wait to toast with these excellent Rieslings and Pinot Noirs. Controversy over the format? That’s a classic excuse from losers: in the meantime, my name goes on the roll of honor for such a prestigious event—not theirs…” emphasized the winner.
The date for the next edition has not yet been announced, but rumors are already circulating that it may be broadcast live on TelePace.
