1-Cushion
MALLE - What can the live audience in Salpho and the Kozoom crowd expect when the two best one cushion players in the world face each other in a marathon match to 1500 caroms? Which style of playing, based on technique, ingenuity, high class and mental toughness will survive when Frédéric Caudron and Jean Paul de Bruijn clash in the Kozoom Challenge, a battle over three days?
The Salpho Billiard Center in Malle, from 27 to 29 June, is the place where real billiard lovers can witness the very best in one of the most wonderful disciplines in billiard. One cushion is the game for the real specialists: subtle gather shots, controlled positions alongside the short rail, small draw shots, pique's, massé's, the two protagonists master it all in every detail.
There is a difference though: Frédéric Caudron is an all round player who is not afraid of space and Jean Paul de Bruijn is the more sophisticated specialist.
Kozoom looks ahead to the challenge in the next two weeks, and asked Caudron and de Bruijn to make a first impression of what they expect.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: Why should real billiard lovers not miss this clash at the Salpho or on Kozoom?
Frédéric Caudron: ,,Because it's a very special event... 1500 points one cushion, you don't see that every week...''
Jean Paul de Bruijn: ,,I think it will be a feast of billiards.''
Kozoom/FB: What can we expect from such a long marathon game between the two specialists?
FC: ,,You don't know what to expect... It's new, a very long distance in three days. Hopefully we can both achieve a high level and keep it very exciting until the last session.''
JPB: ,,High runs and beautiful solutions. We want to show the audience the beauty of one cushion.''
Kozoom/FB: Which averages and runs?
JPB: ,,We will both play offensively, but it does not mean that if you miss a ball, you will leave a good position for your opponent. The balls can be close together, but still it can be an impossible position in one cushion. That's typical for this discipline. I hope that both will be top and play minimum 15 average. Highest runs? At least 100.''
FC: ,,It's difficult to estimate in advance. But we can play runs of 100 or more and around 20 average. We play on new cloths, so it is not always easy. We must wait and see.''
Kozoom/FB: Will it certainly give an indication of the qualities of these two world players? And about the chances for the World championship this year?
JPB: ,,No, it depends on the form of the day. And there are more very strong one cushion players: Alain Remond (beautiful solutions), Armin Kahofer (technically very gifted and has developed strongly in three cushion), Xavier Gretillat (wonderful runs), Peter De Backer (always great). And at every World championship, there are surprises, so who knows...''
FC: ,,This challenge doesn't say much about the chances at the World's, because there are other candidates. And this battle is an exhibition match. We're hoping for the best...''