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Eddy Leppens gets off with a fright

24-11-2012

Gepubliceerd door frits bakker

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© © Didier Fioramonti
Eddy Leppens, preparing for the match with his mental coach Jan Bloemen.

SCHILTIGHEIM - How immense was the difference at the two tables, in the early morning of day two in the Agipi Masters with two big names in the arena.

The Belgian Eddy Leppens who had a dramatic start, who was struggling with the table and himself. He was looking at a 15-0 backlog after six innings against the young Portuguese Joao Pedro Ferreira and needed a tough race for the win.

The Greek Nikos Polychronopoulos, at the other billiard, who finished in his well known, smooth style in 27 innings (50 points) where Leppens had 10 caroms in the same innings.

What a difference in attitude, in body language, between two players who belong to the subtop in the world.

,,Yes, of course, it is always difficult to start, so it is not so bad that I play my first match against the young Portuguese player'', said Leppens early in the morning at breakfast.

He could not know that it would even take so many innings to find his rhythm.

Eddy Leppens is in a good form, for many weeks alreay. He shows it in the leagues in the Netherlands and in Belgium. ,,I just had a minor feeling in recent week, but I start here in Agipi with a lot of confidence.''

Nikos Polychronopoulos did not play too good in the Acropolis open tournament in Athens last week, where he was outplayed after two losses in an early phase.

He is nevertheless the leader in Group 2 after two victories and the main favorite to advance for next round in these qualification round. This morning he defeated the Vietnamese Xuan Cuong Ma 50-36 in 27 innings, the best match so far in two days.

His biggest competitor in theory, Eddy Leppens, almost needed the double innings (53).

The Belgian had to fight hard to get rid off 15-0, 17-9, 21-10 and 26-14 backlogs. He finally levelled in the 43rd inning (31-31) and ran to the finish with some 'fours' and a six to 50-44 in 53. It was just in time to get off with a fright.

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