3-Cushion
LAXOU - Two fabulous starts of Torbjörn Blomdahl, in an era of just two months, brough the Swedish star player close to the world's best match. But both at the World Cup in Hurghada (11 December, 2014) and in the French league with Laxou (yesterday night, 14 February), the whirlwind missed the dazzling finish to threaten the world record.
The Blomdahl-start is very famous now, but to attack the incredible world record (50 in six innings) a Merckx-finish is required. The Belgian realized a historic world record in Germany on October 8, in a match in which he recorded runs of 4-9-26-7-0-4: fifty caroms in six innings.
Torbjörn Blomdahl started on Saturday with 12-7-1-5-10 (35 in 5), two innings later after 2 and 9 the Swede had 46 in 7. For his last four points he needed another six innings to finish against Peter De Backer (50-20 in 13, 3.846 average).
At the Hurghada World Cup Blomdahl started against the Vietnamese Vinh The Ly after a run 13 with 27 in four innings and 32 in 5, but when the world record was beyond his reach, the focus disappeared. The 40 caroms record is on 6 innings, made by Frédéric Caudron (twice) and Marco Zanetti.
Three matches on the fourth day of the French team competition yielded quite a few surprises: except for Torbjörn's stunning victory, the Laxou team, that leads the ranking, suffered an unexpected loss in the home match against Kozoom (6-2). Before the break Kozoom led already 4-0.
Frédéric Mottet was a way too strong for Pierre Soumagne (50-30 in 30) and Bernard Baudoin defeated Eric Kremer-Leclaire in a thrilling finish 50-49 in 43. And when Blomdahl was in the middle of his demonstration against De Backer (with a 46-6 in 7 innings), Marc Boigneres surprised Martin Horn in the other match, which he won eventually 50-47 (30).
Kozoom thereby climbs to third place in the table, one point behind Gravelines, that plays against Saint Maur today (Sunday).
Andernos continued its leading position in Group 1 despite the shared win with Colmar (4-4). Morangis CetSi defeated Albert 6-2 in the same group and is the number two now, two points behind Andernos (Andernos 7, Morangis 5, Albert 3, Colmar 1).
Eddy Merckx was the best man for Morangis in the away match against Albert with a victory over Peter Ceulemans (50-38 in 19, 2.632). Eddy Leppens sealed the win in the other Belgian clash against Kurt Ceulemans 50-32 in 29 innings.
Before the break Cédric Melnytschenko won on behalf of Albert against Richard Bitalis 50-38 in 37. Jean Reverchon defeated Kevin Perrotin 50-30 in 31.
Frédéric Caudron and Jérôme Riotto took the first match point for Colmar in the away match against the French champion Andernos. Francis Connesson played a poor match for the champions against Riotto (50-42 loss in 76 innings). Frédéric Caudron was trailing 36-31 against Filippos Kasidokostas when he attacked with fourteen and then defeated the Greeks 50-45 in 23. Roland Forthomme won the match against his compatriot Danny Boutet 50-43 in 42.
Frédéric Caudron defeated Filippos Kasidokostas.