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French hope for Worlds: Remond and Villiers

08/13/2014

Published by frits bakker

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© © French federation
Alain Remond and Bernard Villiers, French contenders at the World championship

SAINT-BRÉVIN-LES-PINS - The tournament which is the most eagerly awaited in France for the upcoming months is the World championship one cushion, which will be held in Saint-Brévins-les-Pins from 2 to 5 October. French billiard has to go far back in time to discover a world champion: Jean Albert in Paris in 1934, Jacques Davin in Nice in 1935 and Robert Toledano in Montargis in 1937, with respective averages 3.24, 3.01 and 3.07.

Then, from 1968, two Belgian star players, Raymond Ceulemans and Ludo Dielis, brought nine titles to their country (6 and 3, respectively), Fonzy Grethen from Luxembourg could celebrate one victory, Jos Bongers and Jean-Paul de Bruijn took the title for the Netherlands and Martin Horn and Wolfgang Zenkner won for Germany.

But what about France, that was the organizer of 14 World championships in 77 years? The organizing country of this year's championship can put in two spear points with title chances: Alain Remond and Bernard Villiers. Alain Remond has been announced already by the French billard federation and Bernard Villiers is a candidate to participate.

The stage of the European Championship with Bernard Villiers, Frédéric Caudron, Alain Remond and Jean-Paul de Bruijn.

There are nine places reserved for the championship (one per country), reserved by the CEB. The UMB may serve out one wild card, the French federation the second wild card. It would be logical that Bernard Villiers receives a wild card as the number two at the European championship.

There's even a chance that a third French player wil receive a wild card, when Remond and Villiers are appointed by the CEB.

Alain Remond and Bernard Villiers have a record list with the most French titles since the last title was won by Francis Connesson in 1995-1996. Remond and Villiers together won fourteen titles in nineteen years.

Kozoom journalist Jérémie Picart, triple French champion balk line 47/1, had an interview with the French top player in this summer month.

The ambition: looking for the world title.

Jérémie Picart/Kozoom: Hello, how are you doing this summer?

Alain Remond: ,,I feel good, I took a holiday in Spain, because I really need to take some rest after a busy season.''

Bernard Villiers: ,, I have a good moral, my health is good and soon I will start my holiday.''

JP/Kozoom: Have you seen the Challenge between Frédéric Caudron and Jean-Paul de Bruijn? And what did you think about it?

AR: ,,Yes of course, I was there myself for one day, because I didn't want to miss this show, but personally I think a shorter distance (1000 points for example) would be better to put more pressure on both players. And it should be better for the future that this kind of games were played on neutral ground. We all have seen that Jean-Paul needed ten sessions to get used to the table. From then, the match was in balance. Still, I enjoyed the challenge, the welcome there and the atmosphere in the magnificent venue of Frederick.''

BV: ,,It was a game where nothing was at stake, I thought we would see more. The formula was good, but Caudron took just few risks.''

JP/Kozoom: Both players are favorites for the World title in Saint-Brevin. Who are the outsiders?

AR: ,,The championship is over four days and each player will have a lesser match. Who would have thought that Zenkner would win in 2009 after a disastrous start to his tournament in Cervera. In my opinion, everyone has a chance to win, otherwise I could better stay in my sunny Catalonia or my rainy Picardy.''

BV: ,,It wouldn't surprise me if Gretillat or De Backer were able to do a shot at the title. And who knows, a big surprise for us, the French. We have our experience. Alan is a former European champion and played has several World championships. For myself, I start with full confidence after my second place at the last European championships in Brandenburg.''

JP/Kozoom: How do you prepare for this event?

AR: ,,I'm working hard to be in a good condition, I'm swimming, about two hours a day since the start of July... I lost some weight and physically I feel better now. From now on I will play every day and I'll do some jogging three times per week. So, I'm looking forward to this event, I think about it every day.''

BV: ,,I practice every day to keep a little contact with the balls.''

JP/Kozoom: Do you have a training partner to play with?

AR: ,,Most of the time I do my practice alone, but I'm lucky that I have a big club (BC Soissons), where I can meet some strong opponents to play with.''

BV: ,,Occasionally I have some sparring partners, like Mr. Lombard, who plays around 4.50 and Mr. Flao, from a lower class.''

JP/Kozoom: Did you plan a specific training program for September, the month before the start of the World championship?

AR: ,,I want to optimize my trainings from mid-September and bring it up to six or eight hours a day. Then, we have another tournament in Soissons, so I have to be ready for the Worlds.''

BV: ,,I'm looking forward to some training sessions with Louis Edelin and Alain Remond soon.''



JP/Kozoom: Have you ever played a World championship before in this discipline? And what makes it a special tournament?

AR: ,,This is my tenth World championship (47/2, 71/2, one cushion and triathlon) and my third in France. It's really special to play a World championship. The pressure is high, the tournament is prestigious, not comparable to a European championship. I wait impatiently for the start.''

BV: ,,For me it's the first time that I play a World championship. You don't get so many chances to play this tournament in one cushion, but I think I deserve to participate, based on my results.''

JP: What would it mean for you, a world title?

AR: ,,It has been my dream since I play billiards, my biggest goal I can achieve. The title would give me tremendous joy, it would be great for my fans and France as a billiard country.''

BV: ,,It would be a huge reward for all my training and competitions for thirty years.''

JP/Kozoom: If you had to mention a successor to Wolfgang Zenkner, who do you think?

AR: ,,Billiards is a sport... and sport is both wonderful and unpredictable. So without hesitation I say, Alain Remond.''

BV: ,,Caudron is the best player ever in one cushion.''

Jérémie Picart: ,,Thank you for answering the questions for our Kozoom readers. I wish you a good preparation in August.''

 

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