3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM - The two Belgians, who have to play the last qualification round in the Agipi Masters this week, it was up early this morning. Eddy Merckx, the proud winner of the World Cup in Trabzon, together with Frédéric Caudron had to step early on the plane. ,,We play a competition match on Monday in Belgium'', Merckx said yesterday. ,,So there is no time for a party after my victory.''
After a short break they arrive in Schiltigheim on Thursday for the Masters. Caudron and Merckx have to do a tough job for survival in Group C, in which Torbjörn Blomdahl, Haeng Jik Kim and Nikos Polychronopoulos are the other competitors.
Two of those five players will qualify for the grand final of the Masters on 24, 25, 26 and 27 of March, but before that, there are some very interesing matches this week in the Agipi arena on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The start in Group C is impressive. The two Belgians will meet each others on Friday at 17:30 in the first match. It is the revenge match of the finals at the Belgian championship in Blankenberge, where Merckx scored the matchball in the fifth set on 14-14 and so became the champion of Belgium.
In the Agipi Masters on Friday, at the same time, Haeng Jik Kim, the reigning world champion juniors, plays against Nikos Polychronopoulos. Torbjörn Blomdahl has a free round, he starts the qualifying rounds on Saturday at 11.30 against Haeng Jik Kim.
All matches are live on kozoom.com for Premium Pass holders.