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NEUGODNIKOV's gain was to the detriment of Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ (ESP), Staffan LINDBERG (FIN) and Bjorn HANSEN (SWE), and leaves him counting equal wins to Paolo CIAN, although the Italian has four victories out of four matches, whilst the Russian has raced seven matches. A Scandinavian clash started the day, with LINDBERG beating HANSEN. Buoyed by his win against reigning World Champion Ed BAIRD (USA) on Monday, Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV (RUS) looked to be on top form beating Desafio Español helmsman, LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ in his opening match yesterday. That victory turned out to be be the start of an impressive day for the Russian, who now stands as CIAN's closest challenger at the top of the leaderboard. The second flight of the day was postponed, adding to the tension for LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ who is sailing on his home waters and was counting down for his fifth match of the series. However, the wait was to be followed by an unequivocal win from HANSEN. The second match, saw NEUGODNIKOV continue his day in the intended fashion to beat LINDBERG. In the first match of the third flight it was HANSEN's turn to fall under the Russian power and NEUGODNIKOV added up his fourth point. NEUGODNIKOV is clearly aiming to improve on last year's result of fourth overall. The second match saw the Spanish team defeated by LINDBERG.

Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ claimed his first victory yesterday © Nico Martinez

In the fourth flight of the day, number six in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings Sébastian COL (FRA) beat World number one Peter GILMOUR (AUS). An ominous outing for GILMOUR who despite the credibility of being the world's number one match racer, just does not seem to be at his best in Calpe. There was a more positive note for LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ who sits at 317 in the Rankings as he claimed his first win, against World number five SPITHILL, a great confidence boost for the Spaniard .

SPITHILL was also beaten in his next match against GILMOUR, who got his second point of the round robin, whilst COL beat LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ. In the final flight of the day CIAN continued his winning streak and won his only match of day against BAIRD to remain undefeated, whilst the defending champion languishes at the bottom of the leaderboard. Great Britain's Ian WILLIAMS once again proved to be the undoing of NEUGODNIKOV, who he has already beaten twice in the finals of ISAF Grade 1 events this year. It gave the Brit victory in his only match of the day to break even with a 2-2 tally, whilst despite his defeat NEUGODNIKOV can reflect on a day's work very well done.

For a complete list of all the news from the ISAF Match Racing World Championship CLICK HERE.

ISAF Match Racing World Championship Results

Round Robin

Flight 7Staffan LINDBERG d. Bjorn HANSEN
Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV d. Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ Flight 8
Bjorn HANSEN d. Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ
Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV d. Staffan LINDBERG Flight 9 Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV d. Bjorn HANSEN
Staffan LINDBERG d. Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ

Flight 10

Sébastian COL d. Peter GILMOUR
Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ d. James SPITHILL

Flight 11 Peter GILMOUR d. James SPITHILL
Sébastian COL d. Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ

Flight 12

Paolo CIAN d. Ed BAIRD
Ian WILLIAMS d. Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV

ISAF Match Racing World Championship Standings

1. Paolo CIAN (ITA), 4-0
2. Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV (RUS), 4-3
3. Sébastian COL (FRA), 3-2
4. Staffan LINDBERG (FIN), 3-3
4. Bjorn HANSEN (SWE), 3-3
6. Mathieu RICHARD (FRA), 2-1
6. Philippe PRESTI (FRA), 2-1
8. Ian WILLIAMS (GBR), 2-2
8. James SPITHILL (AUS), 2-2
10. Peter GILMOUR (AUS), 2-3
11. Ed BAIRD (USA), 1-2
12. Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ (ESP), 1-7