The third stage of the Pétanque Masters concluded yesterday in Montluçon. The ‘Étoiles du Sud’ (Southern Stars) team fell to Dylan Rocher’s squad in the semi-finals.
Denied a spot in the final, the team featuring Malagasy stars Yves Sedrick Rakotoarisoa and Jean François Daniel Rakotondrainibe, known as ‘Zigle’, alongside Senegalese player N’Diaye Fara, failed to reach the final for the second consecutive time in the 2026 Pétanque Masters. The Étoiles du Sud team had an inconsistent run during this third stage of the prestigious tournament, which gathers the world’s elite players.
The African selection lost 4-13 in yesterday afternoon’s semi-final against the team led by multiple world champions Dylan Rocher and Diego Rizzi, supported by Stéphane Robineau and Jean Michel Puccinelli. Rizzi’s precise shooting allowed Rocher’s team to quickly pull ahead to 10-2.
In the other semi-final, the defending champions—Mickaël Bonetto, Christophe Sarrio, Ludovic Montoro, and Yohan Cousin—defeated the ‘Dream Team’. Yves Rakotoarisoa’s team, winners of the 2025 Mondial La Marseillaise, had previously secured revenge against the local Montluçon selection, consisting of Christian Fazino, Jean Louis Cazemajou, and Guy Vinson.
The Étoiles du Sud won their playoff match 13-5 yesterday morning. In the final showdown, Bonetto’s defending champion team triumphed 13-7 last night against Dylan’s squad. Despite their defeat in the final, the Rocher team climbed two spots to take the provisional lead with 25 points. The Étoiles du Sud dropped one place to second with 24 points. The next stage will take place on July 23 in Saint-Étienne.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-17 05:57:25 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/petanque-masters-yves-et-zigle-elimines.html