3-Cushion
ARCACHON - The French team three cushion league has been closed in Arcachon with a new champion. CetSI Morangis, for the first year among the elite, took the title in the final to defeat the reigning champion Andernos. In a beautifully renewed billiard room the club of Arcachon hosted the finals together with Andernos. The organization passed the test with flying colors. The six world champions and the other participants were cheered by a hundred spectators.
And what an extraordinary final of the tournament for CetSI Morangis on Sunday afternoon!!
Led by their team captain and two-time silver winner at the French multi-championship in Evian, Jean Reverchon, the foursome with Eddy Merckx, Eddy Leppens, Richard Bitalis and Jean Reverchon took the gold medal and a ticket to the European qualifiers next year.
The numbers three and four of the team laid the foundation for the final victory. Richard Bitalis defeated Jérôme Barbeillon and showed a much better form than his opponent: 50-28 in 22. Jean Reverchon put two average on the scoreboard against Francis Connesson until the 21th inning (45-35), but was overtaken by his opponent in the exciting final after six misses in a row: 47-44. Reverchon found his rhythm back and finally finished with a run of three.
CetSI Morangis therefore started the second part of the match with a 4-0 lead and 24 caroms ahead of the opponent. The best conditions for Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens to finish the job.
Roland Forthomme had a smooth start against Eddy Leppens (13-0), but Merckx led almost the entire match against Kasidokostas until the Greek came along in the 11th inning (21-18). Merckx however immediately responded with a stunning run of eighteen and decided the match. The Belgian won in 19 innings and with a score of 38-24 in the match between Forthomme and Leppens, the match was stopped.
Morangis rcorded 1.891 on average in his last appearance. Eddy Merckx was the star player with two victories (in the first match against Torbjörn Blomdahl in 25 innings) with 2.272 average. Jean Reverchon also took wins and played 1.234. Richard Bitalis lost his first match against Pierre Soumagne, but excelled in the final.
Eddy Leppens lost in the semi-finals against Martin Horn (1696) and did not finish in his second match.
The number two, Andernos, will also play in the European competition next year. Roland Forthomme (1.491) and Francis Connesson (1.849) were the main players in the team. Jérôme Barbeillon lost twice, like Filippos Kasidokostas did against Jean-Christophe Roux and Eddy Merckx.
Laxou finished third by defeating Saint-Maur in the small final: Blomdahl against Roux was 50-35 in 40, Soumagne beat Edelin 50-46 in 51, Martin Horn bested Thierry Roxo 50-23 in 25.
Saint-Maur couldn't play a major role due to the absence of its captain Jérémy Bury.
Andernos was beaten in the final match by Morangis