Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The first gold medals at the Belgian championship played in the Blankenberge Casino this week, went to Jaimie Buelens and Dylan Parent. The 29-year-old Malinois girl took her fifth title in ladies three cushion, her fourth in total. Dylan Parent from Charleroi, a pupil of the veteran Paul Stroobants, is the junior champion. The final in the junior championship was a real thriller: three players finished with four match points.
The first medals are distributed in the Belgian Multi championship, a marathon of matches led by the sportive director Patrik Mintjens and the superb team of Belgian referees.
Jaimie Buelens qualified her championship in average (0.678) as one of the best in her career. ,,I am very happy, because I always kept on playing billiards fanaticly in all those years. This is a nice reward again for all the work. Last year it was a special title, because I took it on the same day that my father became Belgian champion.''
The tournament was played with four finalists and ended in a final between the two major contenders, Jaimie Buelens and Danielle le Bruyn. ,,I started the final match with four match points, Danielle already lost once against Karolien Matthys. So, for me I could afford a draw or a loss with a good score. The match ended in 27-25 for me in 29 innings. It was an exciting match and, according to the audience, a pleasant game to watch'', said the champion in her analysis.
Jaimie Buelens is playing also in the Dutch league this year and hopes to be sent out by her federation to the World championship for women, which is played in Belgium. At the last World championship, last year in Korea, Buelens was missing.
Jaimie Buelens started the tournament against Karolien Matthys 24-22 in 50 innings and went against Sandra Letter with 27-18 in 36 innings.
The final ranking:
1 Jaimie Buelens 6-0.678-7
2 Danielle le Bruyn 2-0.541-6
3 Sandra de Letter 2-0.456-5
4 Karolien Matthys 2-0.333-3.
Dylan Parent didn't start on his best in his first appearance when he was beaten by Gérome Dieu: 30-23 in 46. Stef van Hees also took the lead after the first round and defeated Glen Neyens 23-11 in 50. In the second session, Parent recovered with a victory over Stef van Hees (30-24 in 44). Gérome Dieu was a way too strong for Glen Neyens: 29-13 in 50.
The decision came in the last session, in which Gérome Dieu couldn't deal with the pressure and lost to Stef van Hees 30-17 in 45 innings. Dylan Parent grabbed the title in his match against Glen Neyens: 30-17 in 40. The differences between the three players on top was minimal: all three with four matchpoints.
The junior-ranking:
1 Dylan Parent 4-0.638-7
2 Stef van Hees 4-0.562-5
3 Gérome Dieu 4-0.446-6
4 Glen Neyens 0-0.292-3
Dylan Parent took the junior titel ahead of Stef van Hees and Gérome Dieu