Balk-Line 47/1
The record that he played last year, will remain in the books for years, or it must be Frédéric Caudron himself who plays a termendous tournament. The Belgian championship in the balkline 47/1 is the championship in which nobody can threaten him. Caudron took the title for the twelfth consecutive time today, he has a total of sixteen times now that he was crowned as the champion in this discipline.
His last year average was incredible. Caudron finished three matches of two hundred points in one inning and one in three innings. ,,But then I ended with a run of 197 in the third inning'', he said this afternoon, after an interview for the Belgian television.
The match against Philippe Deraes he won 200-36 in three innings. Patrick Niessen was beaten earlier this in nine innings, Peter de Backer in three and only Eddy Leppens could stop Caudron in his imposant serie of only victories. They played a draw in eight innings.
,,I do remember my first title in 1991 in Lokeren very well'', Caudron went far back in the time. Even though he could not remember who was his opponent in the final: Ignace Duym, who also once was the champion of Belgium in the 47/1, or Peter de Backer. It was De Backer. Caudron played an average of 36.12 when he won his first title.
,,For a record like last year, everything must be perfect'', Caudron realized himself. ,,I only reached my hihest level in the 47/2 in this championship. The other averages are somewhat lower, because I had a worse day on Tuesday. I almost lost my three cushion match against Martin Spoormans and was bad in the balklines that day. That has dropped my averages. Still I have in the 47/1 an average around 35.00. That's good enough to be European or World champion.''
Today, against Philippe Deraes, he said, it was difficult at the start of the match. ,,I made it difficult for myself'', he said, ,,because many times I played not well enough. Then people say you have no luck, but it's always up to you. If you the speed is too high or too low, the balls often role wrong. And then it can be a very difficult game.''