3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM - In his glorious years he belonged to the very best players in the world. The now 63-year old Francis Connesson was four times world champion in the balk line disciplines and eight times European champion. He won the French Masters title three cushion in 2004 in a final against Jean Christoph Roux and was crowned seven times to the winner of the French national championship.
Francis Connesson has always been a special person in the world of carom billiards. The wars he fought out with Hans Vultink, his big Dutch rival in those years, were legendary. The two top players have rarely shaken hands before a match and didn't they begrudged each other the air they breathed.
The Dutchman disappeared after his glory years and almost never showed up in the billiard rooms anymore. Francis Connesson, however, seems to never surrender. Even now as three-cushion player he still can make a big impression, like in his opening match of the European Cup, when he dazzled with a run of eighteen in his thirteenth inning against Jean Christoph Roux.
That's the highest run so far and he may be very proud with it. Moreover, Francis Connesson has remained unbeaten for his team: he first defeated Roux and in the first session of the fight between Clichy and Deurne he won 40-30 against Jef Gijsels.
His teammate Jérôme Barbeillon lost against another veteran in this tournament: Ludo Dielis, who led BC Deurne with his win (40-36 in 29) to 2-2 during the break.
He doesn't play that often for the team, but sometimes Ludo Dielis shows his high class talents. He was part of the glorious victory in Cartagena, where the Belgians surprised everyone by a win against the team with all Turkish top players.
The main titles of the two veterans who played for BC Deurne and Clichy Montmartre today:
Ludo Dielis: 8 x world Champion (2 times in three cushion, 1 in Cairo, 1 as overall winner BWA)
14 x European Champion (7 times in cushion).
Francis Connesson: 4 times world champion (balklines)
8 x European champion (balklines)
1 x French master in three-cushion (2004).
6 x French title in three cushion.