RONCHIN - Mélanie Hallier has won a national three-cushion tournament in France for the first time. She defeated the favorite Céline Jacques in a bizarre final match in Ronquin. After a tie at 20 caroms, there were shoot-outs to determine the winner. The first series ended in 1-1, like the second and the third. The decision was forced by Mélanie Hallier in the fourth shoot-out: 2-1.
The tournament winner defeated Bilitis Darcy in the qualifications with 0474 average and was defeated herself by Sonia Livebardon with 20-16 in 43 innings. Then, in the quarterfinals, she outplayed Christiane Dugue 20-16 and in the semifinals she defeated Aida Lehbil with 20-10 in 43. Hallier finished 0.467 average (billiard size 2.60) and takes the lead in the ranking with 177 points ahead of Céline Jacques , the two-time finalist, with 162 points.
Jacques played the best match of the tournament in the semi-final against Sonia Livebardon: 20 in 21 innings, averaging 0.952.
The third national tournament is in Pézenas in the weekend of April 3rd.