3-Cushion
ANDERNOS - Francis Connesson has won the last French Grand Prix beating Cédric Melnytschenko in the final 40-33 in 26 innings. The salty dog of French billiard showed a superb rang in his five matches with averages between 1.250 and 1.818, what made 1.449 overall. The last tournament was played in Andernos.
Jérémy Bury missed the tournament because he was playing the Luxor World Cup. Jérôme Barbeillon finished as a leader in the top sixteen players, that will show up at the French championship.
Francis Connesson, on his way to the victory, bested Jacques Squinabol (40-10) and Frédéric Beghin (40-36) in 22 and 32 innings, then defeated Louis Edelin 40-27 in 30 and in the semifinals Marco Boingneres, his teammate at Andernos, 40-31 (28 innings).
The Andernos win was the eighth victory in a national tournament three cushion for the four-time world champion in the classic games.
Cédric Melnytschenko finished off second after his podium places at Chartres and Saint-Maur earlier in the season. Third and fourth on the stage were Marc Boingneres and Jean-Christophe Roux.
The sixteen players for the final, played in Ronchin, are now known:
1 Jérome Barbeillon 258
2 Francis Connesson 240
3 Jérémy Bury 234
4 Cédric Melnytschenko, 195
5 Pierre Soumagne 168
6 Jean-Christophe Roux 162
7 Jean Reverchon 135
8 Louis Edelin 117
9 Frédéric Roelants 117
10 Marc Boigneres 105
11 Xavier le Roy 87
12 Vincent Lelièvre 87
13 Bernard Baudoin 87
14 Jean-Jacques Boudin 77
15 Jean-Marie Formont 77
16 Thierry Roxo 72.