Massimo Cremona, currently 2nd in the FISTF World Rankings, put out the best of himself to win the Gran Prix of Norway held in Skien, when in a thrilling final he beat World-ranked no.1 Verhagen 5-4.

The match was still 1-1 by halftime.

This was the second time for Cremona to win this event, as he had done so in the 1st edition of 2005.

Cremona won his group very easily, beating Italian Balboni 6-0, and Norwegian’s duo Sagafos 5-0 and Eikeland 11-1 to pass through.

In the last 16, he again eliminated another Norwegian Brekke 4-1. The quarter-final was a rematch final of 2005 for Cremona where he had to show character to beat Norvegian Champion Grorud 2-1.

With only six minutes to go Cremona was 0-1 down before over turning the result to 2-1 to pass to the semis.

In another tight match he eliminated Italy Galeazzi of Milan 3-2 before going to the final match.

Thirty two players from eight nations coming up from Norway, Finland, Germany, England, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Malta took part in the Gran Prix on Saturday.

On Sunday, 29 players turned up for the Internationa; Open. Cremona again won his group easily beating Norway Ellefsen 8-0 and Tore Myge 4-1 to pass through. In the last 16, he eliminates Vulpes of Germany 12-1 before going out in the quarter final 1-3 to Verhagen.

This weekend Cremona will be taking part in the Gran Prix of Italy in Roma, where on Saturday he will take part in the team event with Perugia and on Sunday the Individual event.