Carom
BLANKENBERGE - Two Ceulemans boys in the arena, the others in the VIP stands. The third day of the Belgian Multi championship was not only a day to enjoy billiards, also to delight the wonderful stories with Raymond 'for ever young' Ceulemans, the all time phenomen, Jef Jurion, former football player of the Belgian national team and Anderlecht and another champion, Ludo Dielis. The playing schedule was in trouble at the end of the day, but still, the stands were pretty full for the last matches around midnight. Maarten Janssen switched off the lights after twelve with his last carom: thanks to a run of 354, he played a draw against Andy de Bond in the free game: 400-400.
Peter and Kurt Ceulemans qualified in one three cushion group for the next round, Patrick Kesteloot and Marco Janssen, in his new look, did so in the other group of four. Peter Ceulemans the best of all with 1.343, Patrick Kesteloot the only player to take the maximum six match points.
He surprised with victories over Marco Janssen (40-32 in 36), Ronny Brants (40-31 in 46) and Luc Salvo (40-32 in 38). The match for the second spot in the group was between Marco Janssen and Ronny Brants. The mutual match was won by Janssen, who outplayed the always feared champion-killer Ronny Brants 40-29 in 21.
The other group was a battle with more tension. Peter and Kurt Ceulemans started with a draw against each other (40-40 in 34). Peter fought himself to a close win in the second over Thomas Broux (40-39 in 30) and Kurt escaped with a victory against Frank de Groof after a dramatic start (29-8 in 22 innings), finishing 40-38 in 41.
Frank de Groof, who defeated Thomas Broux 40-35 in 36, could still disrupt the Ceulemans-party in the last session, but Peter was a way too strong. The leading player of the Mr 100 finished sovereign in his last appearance, 40-17 in 25. Kurt also took a big margin win against Thomas Broux: 40-14 in 28.
The final rankings in the three-cushion groups:
Group 7:
1 Peter Ceulemans 5-1.343-10
2 Kurt Ceulemans 5-1.165-9
3 Frank de Groof 2-0.931-7
4 Thomas Broux 0-0.936-7
Kurt Ceulemans escaped after a dramatical start
Group 6:
1 Patrick Kesteloot 6-1.000-7
2 Marco Janssen 4-1.178-6
3 Ronny Brants 2-1.010-7
4 Luc Salvo 0-0.961-9.
Patrick Kesteloot, unbeaten in his group
Marco Janssen showed up in his new look
Andy de Bondt is leading the five-group of free game players after his victory on Philippe Deraes (400-105 in 6) and the draw against Maarten Janssen (400-400 in 5): with five match points and 100.00 average ahead of Johan Devos with two match points.
Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen and Johan Devos gathered each two match points in the 47/2, Leppens defeated Maarten Janssen in two innings (300-53).
Maarten Janssen leads the group in the 47/1 with four match points and 16.92. Patrick Niessen, who played only one match, beat Janssen and played 40.00 average. Leppens defeated Francis Forton 200-88 in seven innings.
Patrick Niessen is the leader in 71/2 with four match points and 50.00 average. Philippe Deraes is second with 4 points and 21.73. The game between Deraes and Forton in this discipline (250-155 in 12) was a marathon which lasted nearly three hours. Deraes was extraordinary in his run of 160, in which he gathered the caroms in all corners of the table.
Eddy Leppens excelled in one cushion against Patrick Niessen with a magnificent run of 90 from the break. That was the basis for a big victory: Niessen was left far behind: 150-16 in six.
Today, Wednesday: Frédéric Caudron starts his tournament in one cushion. The multiple champion in this discipline plays at 13.30 against Maarten Janssen. Eddy Merckx is performing in his three cushion group with Tom Persyn, Ronny Daniels and Rudy de Laet. The other group is Roland Forthomme, Ivan Stitschinsky, Kenny Miatton and Henk Blauwblomme.
Raymond Ceulemans (l) with the former famous football player Jef Jurion
Eddy Leppens showed his high class in one cushion with a 90-run from the break
Andy de Bondt leads the group of free game players