Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The first titles at the Belgian championship all disciplines are divided. Today, Sunday, the battle fort he last medals comes to an end. Patrick Niessen has won one championship so far in the balk-line 47/2, Eddy Leppens is champion in 71/2, Philippe Deraes, surprisingly, in the 47/1 and Jaimie Buelens earlier last weekend already took the ladies victory. Frédéric Caudron, Ronny Brants, Eddy Merckx and Roland Forthomme play the semi-finals of the three-cushion at 11.00 on Sunday morning.
The players, the audience and all the watchers on Kozoom agree that the format at the Belgian championship should be given a major adjustment. The nocturnal matches are a thorn in the flesh of many: it's terrible for the players, who sometimes have to play three or four matches a day and in the worst case are sent into the arena after midnight. The match Leppens-Caudron in one cushion was the best example: the two heavyweights played the decisive match in one cushion in front of a few diehard-spectators. The balls were put on the spots after midnight, a shame for the Belgian championship.
A number of proposals have already been launched: for example to reduce the groups in the classic games from five to four players. That should save a lot of matches. Furthermore, there are voices to distribute the final matchess over the week and not all in the last weekend.
The most surprising thing on Saturday was Ronny Brants' victory over Eddy Leppens. Ronny Brants: ,,I am very happy with my place in the semi-finals, in which I play against Caudron. It's really not so simple to win against Leppens, one of the top 20 players in the world ranking. I play a super Belgian championship again, I only can enjoy it, whatever happens against Caudron. ''
About the match: Brants has a better start, Leppens returns with a run of 11 and it goes up to 29-29 and 33-33 (18 innings). Then, Brants finishes with seven (40-33 in 19). ,,What a match, just crazy'', concluded Brants.
Also surprising was the title of Philippe Deraes in the 47/1 balk-line, in which he finished with the same match points (5) as Patrick Niessen, but averaged 18.27 against 16.92. Eddy Leppens had the double average, but lost to Janssen and Niessen in the last match on Saturday night. ,,We both were broken after such a long day'', Leppens commented. Deraes won the title despite a loss against Leppens and a draw against Niessen. Strangely enough, Maarten Janssen won against Niessen and Leppens, but he lost to Deraes and Debaes.
Patrick Niessen was superior in the 47/2 with the maximum eight match points and 63.15 on average. He was also the only one with the maximum run of 300. Leppens finished second with 5 points and 54.00, Janssen third with 5 points and 35.83.
Eddy Leppens won the 71/2 thanks to a tight victory in the last match against Patrick Niessen 250-248. Leppens started with 152, then missed out on a butage and lost his rhythm. Niessen seemed to finish the game, but missed out on two caroms of the end. Then Leppens secured the win and took the title with a final run of 38.
The free game will be decided today. Patrick Niessen still plays against Robby Sonck and is almost certain of the title. Eddy Leppens still has to play one game in one cushion against Maarten Janssen. He wins the title with a draw, in case of loss the first place is decided on average.
Stefan Neyens and Johan Grimon played a thriller in wheelchair billiards. The title went to Neyens after an exciting final fight. Both players needed five shots for the final carom. Neyens eventually won 20-19 and is the new champion.
Peter Debaes and Peter Mostrey, both from Roeselare, play the final in the 5 pins after victories in the semi-finals against Yves Schiettecatte and Mathy Monnissen.
The rankings in the game types that have been finished:
Balk-line 47/2:
1 Patrick Niessen 8-63.15-300
2 Eddy Leppens 5-54.00-205
3 Maarten Janssen 5-35.83-219
4 Johan Devos 1-17.08-74
5 Robby Sonck 1-15.23-162.
Balk-line 47/1:
1 Philippe Deraes 5-18.27-82
2 Patrick Niessen 5-16.92-130
3 Eddy Leppens 4-41.00-179
4 Maarten Janssen 4-15.07-136
5 Peter Debaes 2-12.26-64.
Balk-line 71/2:
1 Eddy Leppens 8-29.41-185
2 Patrick Niessen 6-23.76-160
3 Maarten Janssen 4-23.56-78
4 Philippe Deras 2-16.30-80
5 Peter Debaes 0-18.11-92.
Wheelchair billiards:
1 Stefan Neyens, 6 points 0.422-3
2 Johan Grimon 4-0.491-4
3 Rudy Rousseau 2-0.253-2
4 Jean Mailleur 0-0.262-3.