3-Cushion
DAMPREMY - The number one and two of the world ranking, Fred Caudron and Eddy Merckx, faced in Dampremy on Tuesday-evening in the BTS tournament final. The highest stage was for Merckx, who beat his eternal rival in Belgian billiards 40-29 in fifteen innings. Caudron remains the number one at the Belgian ranking, Merckx has reduced the margin. Kurt Ceulemans marked in his opening speech on the final day about the unique situation in Belgium. ,,That the two best players on the world rankings are facing each other here in a Belgian final. We can be very proud of that.'' Eddy Merckx, the later winner, said in his commentary: ,,Matches between Caudron and me are always special, sometimes attacking, sometimes tactical, defense, but we always can enjoy the audience.''
The BTS tournament was the second in the cicle after Caudron's win in Geraardsbergen. The Belgian championship, where Merckx was the winner against Caudron, also counts for the ranking. The tournament of Maaslandse has been started and in Herstal is the tournament for the Belgium Cup next week. The best sixteen on the ranking qualify for the Kimchi Superprestige in Lommel.
Eddy Merckx made his attack in the final against Caudron at 8-6. ,,I made fourteen and went into the break at 20-8, but Fred reacted immediately with ten. From that moment on, the score was in balance. I could eventually make the gap with six for a final score of 40-29. I'm very satisfied after this final day with matches in 18, 17 and 15 innings. I had a lesser match in Antalya last week, but that can happen, a match that you lose in 29 innings. And of course it's always good to prove that nothing is wrong with the form and confidence. With that final day in the BTS event, I could show that.''
Merckx has a nice analysis for the games he plays against Caudron. ,,We both try to attack, that's why we play usually high-quality matches. For the ranking, I won two out of three matches, but in the competition I lost with three average. We often play tactical games, like now again. Both attacking, but at 28-27 in seven innings we started thinking about the the defence. Still, fifteen innings is a wonderful match. ''
Eddy Merckx felt top fit again. ,,I've been struggling with a cold and sore throat when I was in Turkey. That is no excuse for the lesser match.'' In his program, top days coming up for Merckx. ,,After Turkey I played in Belgium on Monday, now three matches on Tuesday in the BTS and from now it's looking forward to the next days. On Friday I play in France with my team against Colmar for a place in the playoffs, on Saturday and Sunday we have a double weekend in the Netherlands and we are also in the race for the playoffs.''
In the quarter-finals in Dampremy Caudron, Merckx, Forton and Peter Ceulemans were the winners against Monnissen, Philipoom, Forthomme and Van Acker. Caudron and Merckx finished in eighteen innings, Caudron against Monissen, Merckx against Van Acker. Peter Ceulemans, who played an excellent tournament, was in that quarter final boss over Roland Forthomme 40-36 in 24 innings. Francis Forton defeated Jef Philipoom 40-32 in 41.
In the semi-finals, Caudron bested Forton 40-31 in 30, Merckx beat Ceulemans 40-36 in 17. Peter Ceulemans finished with the best tournament average of all players: 1.975 over four matches.
The top eight of the ranking in Belgium after the tournament in Dampremy:
1 Caudron 129 points
2 Merckx 120
3 Leppens 70
4 Van Acker 66
5 Forthomme 65
6 Peter Ceulemans 59
7 Philipoom 59
8 Forton 53.