Espalion 2026: Thailand Impresses, Helfrick Prevails in an International Final Four
The Espalion International Pétanque Championship, held from August 7 to 9, 2026, lived up to all its promises.
On the Aveyron fairground, the 15th edition brought together an exceptional field, including the first official Thai and Madagascan delegations, ahead of a final won by the triplette of Christophe Constant, Moïse Helfrick and Jimmy Capeleaud.
A Thai Shooting Masterclass
The Thai men's team, made up of Sarawut Sriboonpeng, Ratchata Khamdee and Thaloengkiat Phusa-Ad, was one of the tournament's biggest attractions. Against the triplette of Frédéric Sicre, Rocky Rathqueber and Félix Faurel, they won 13-7 in the quarter-finals, after crushing Arnaud Perrot, Andssy Hut and Dawson Herlemann 13-0 in the round of sixteen.
The statistics released after the match against Sicre – Rathqueber – Faurel illustrate a rare efficiency in the shooting discipline:
| Player | Position | Shooting record | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rachata Khamdee | Shooter | 15/16 | 10 carreaux (direct hits) |
| Sarawut Sriboonpeng | Middle | 11/11 | 7 carreaux |
| Phusa-Ad Thaloengkiat | Pointer | 1 missed attempt | Slightly deflected shot at 10 meters |
In total, the Thai players reportedly landed 26 of 28 shooting attempts, a success rate of 92.9%. This collective precision largely explains the 13-5 victory announced in the Facebook data, even though published match reports indicate a final score of 13-7. Sportmag
Khamdee and Sriboonpeng, world champions, confirmed in Espalion Thailand's reputation as a striking force. Their ability to systematically remove opponents' boules left their rivals no margin for error and gave their matches a distinctly international intensity.
Madagascar, Always in the Mix
Madagascar also left its mark on the weekend with the depth of its squads. Two Madagascan teams reached the round of sixteen, including the one led by Lova Rakotoarisoa, winner of the 2025 Marseillaise, alongside Tafita Angello Andriamahandry and Faralahy Joseph Urbain Ramanantiaray. They nevertheless went down 13-8 against Jean-Pierre Gioe, Franck Millo and Eric Motte.
The other Madagascan team, featuring Faly Donald Andrianantenaina, Faratiana Rakotoniaina and Onjalalaina Randriaharimana, went all the way to the semi-finals. They defeated Patrick Laur, Sony Even and Jason Giraud 13-3 in the quarter-finals, before falling 13-2 against the eventual winners Constant, Helfrick and Capeleaud.
The Madagascan squad notably included two 2024 triplette world championship runners-up, which explains the particularly high caliber of the final four. Madagascar thus confirmed its status as a major nation in international pétanque.
Quarter-Finals and Round of Sixteen
The quarter-finals delivered matches of the very highest level:
- Sicre – Rathqueber – Faurel lost 7-13 to Thailand.
- Montoro – Bonetto – Sarrio beat Gioe – Millo – Motte 13-3.
- Constant – Helfrick – Capeleaud inflicted a resounding 13-0 on Franck Picq, Jean-François Rakotondrainibé and Yves Rakotoarisoa.
- Andrianantenaina – Rakotoniaina – Randriaharimana eliminated Laur – Even – Giraud 13-3.
In the round of sixteen, several matches were particularly one-sided. Thailand won 13-0, Helfrick and his partners 13-2, while Bonetto, Montoro and Sarrio also won 13-3. Madagascar placed two teams at this stage, before one fell to Millo's team and the other advanced to the final four.
Semi-Finals Worthy of a World Championship
The semi-finals pitted the two great foreign nations against the two in-form French teams. On one side, Madagascar faced Constant, Helfrick and Capeleaud; on the other, Thailand took on the French team of Montoro – Bonetto – Sarrio.
The future champions crushed Madagascar 13-2, after their 13-0 in the previous round. Between the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, the Aquitaine triplette therefore conceded only two points to their opponents — a remarkable defensive performance.
In the other semi-final, France managed to contain the Thai firepower. Despite the spectacular shooting of Sriboonpeng and Khamdee, Montoro, Bonetto and Sarrio came out on top 13-9 to reach the final.
Helfrick, Conqueror of Madagascar and France
In the final, Constant, Helfrick and Capeleaud met the French selection. The Aquitaine players took a decisive lead, going 8-0 up after seven ends, then resisted the Bleus' comeback to win 13-3.
This title crowns an impressive run: 13-0 in the quarter-finals against a team mixing French and Madagascan players, 13-2 in the semi-finals against Madagascar, then 13-3 in the final against the French team.
Espalion 2026 will therefore be remembered as an edition where Thailand fascinated with its shooting precision, where Madagascar reminded everyone of its consistency at the highest level, and where the Helfrick triplette proved it could dominate even the strongest international field.
The Thai Women, Undisputed Queens
Thai dominance was not the men's alone. In the women's triplette event, Kantaros Choochuay, Phantipha Wongchuevej and Nantawan Fueangsanit won the Espalion International with total command, conceding only four points from the round of sixteen all the way to the title. They eliminated a French team 13-0 in the round of sixteen, then won 13-1 in the quarter-finals and 13-1 in the semi-finals, before beating Laurence Morotti, Manon Pruvot and Océane Bodenghiem 13-2 in the final, in just eight ends and about 45 minutes.
A three-time 2025 world champion, Kantaros Choochuay once again confirmed her status as the world reference, surrounded by two experienced teammates. The Thai women thus succeed on the Espalion honours list Aurélie Bories, Ludivine Lovet and Torea Tairio, crowned in 2025 wearing the French national jersey.
