Carom
All Belgian top players and four women start on Sunday with a marathon in which the Belgian titles in all disciplins will be divided. Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen are defending two titles, Philip Deraes is the current champion of the free game and Eddy Merckx in three-cushion.
The championship of the Multi-disciplines, from Sunday 9 to Sunday 16 January, is played in the Casino of Blankenberge, Zeedijk 150. The matches will start every day at 10.30, the last matches of the day at 21.30. The entrance is free.
Participants in the free game play to 400 caroms, in 47/2 to 300, in 71/2 to 250 in 47/1 to 200 and in one cushion to 150 points. The three-cushion tournament starts with 32 players, who meet each other in a knock out system to three winning sets of fifteen caroms. The final in the three cushion on Sunday, January 16 at 14.30.
Philippe Deraes was the champion of last year in free game, Frédéric Caudron in 47/1 and one cushion, Patrick Niesen in 47/2 and 71/2. Eddy Merckx defeated Eddy Leppens in the final match of three-cushion.
The players who play the disciplins are:
Free game: Philippe Deraes, Patrick Niessen, Eddy Leppens, Maarten Janssen, Andy de Bondt.
Balkline 47/2: Patrick Niessen, Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Philippe Deraes, Robby Sonck.
Balkline 47/1: Frederic Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Peter de Backer, Patrick Niessen, Philippe Deraes.
Balkline 71/2: Patrick Niesen, Eddy Leppens, Frédéric Caudron, Peter de Backer, Philippe Deraes.
One cushion: Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen, Peter de Backer, Francis Forton.
For the three-cushion tournament have seeded:
Henk Blauwblomme, Ronny Brants, Frédéric Caudron, Marc Ceelen, Kurt Ceulemans, Peter Ceulemans, Alain Clabots, Johan Claessen, Ronny Daniels, Peter de Backer, Wesley de Jaeger, Marc Dellaert, Roland Forthomme, Francis Forton, Marc Janssen, Marco Janssen, Patrick Kestens, Eddy Leppens, Johan Loncelle, Eddy Merckx, Frederic Mottet, Jimmy Mues, Tom Persijn, Jef Philipoom, Marc Roothooft, Martin Spoormans, Rudy Tolleneer, Steven van Acker, Koen van Camp, Michael Camp, Davy Havere and Dirk Weeremans.
The four ladies who play for the national title are: Milenca Struyck, Jaime Buelens, Danielle Le Bruyn and Mireille Vandaele.