Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The good news on the early morning of the Multi championships in the Blankenberge casino is that Patrick Niessen is willing to play again. The multiple Belgian champion in the balk-line games threatened not to return if the federation (or better, organisation) would not act in a draconian manner after Eddy Leppens' behavior, last night in the match between the two players.
As it is well known: Leppens had a verbal fight with the referee, who announced a touching ball in the balk-line match. And after he missed, the referee gave him a formal warning for his behavior on his chair.
Patrick Niessen was furious after the match and said that he would not return in the tournament if the federation would not react.
The affair escalated in the late evening hours, when the federation (or better the organizing committee) decided to a 15 months conditional suspension
The decision was talk of the town at the start of the fifth day. Eddy Leppens: ,,I will play my first match this morning, then I want to respond. This punishment is ridiculous'', he said right before his match against Frédéric Caudron (71/2).
The fifth day of the tournament was launched with matches between Patrick Niessen and Philippe Deraes and one of the other tables Leppens against Caudron.
The dogs are barking and the caravan moves on.
In all disciplines, except three cushion, the battle is approaching the decisive phase. Four players show up for the last group today: Roland Forthomme, Steven Van Acker, Ivan Sitischinsky and Luc Salvo.
In one cushion is the ranking:
Peter De Backer, who defeated Eddy Leppens last night 150-99, leads after three matches with six match points and 7.62 average ahead of Frédéric Caudron, who played only one match so far, a win with 16.66. Eddy Leppens won vs Martin Spoormans and lost to Peter De Backer.
Caudron and Spoormans meet today in this discipline (17.00).
In the 47/2 Eddy Leppens is on top with four match points out of two matches and 100.00 average. Patrick Niessen played one match against Johan Devos in two innings (200.00). Philippe Deraes and Johan Claessen are still contenders for the podium places.
In the 47/1 Patrick Niessen leads the rank with two wins in three matches and 46.40 average. Frédéric Caudron played one match and beat Niessen 200-64 in three innings. Eddy Leppens lost to Patrick Niessen.
In the balk-line 71/2, Frédéric Caudron has four match points after wins against Johan Claessen and Peter Debaes. Eddy Leppens is on four points as well. Patrick Niessen won against Johan Claessen, but lost to Eddy Leppens last night.
Leppens and Caudron meet today (11.00), the main match for the title.
In the free game Maarten Jansen leads with four points out of three. He lost only to Andy de Bond. Patrick Niessen is second with a win against De Bondt and a draw against Peter Vandeloo in two innings. Johan Claessen is still in the battle for the title.