Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The Belgian championship three cushion will be played according to another system this year. There is no knockout from the start: 32 players are divided in groups of four and play qualification rounds. The best two of each group advance to next round in which sixteen finalists play knock-out.
The Belgian Multi's, played in the new hall of the Blankenberge Casino from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 January, are the traditional starter of the year.
The three cushion discipline, with its 32 seeded players, is the main part of the schedule. In addition five players in each discipline battle for the title in one cushion, balk-lines 47/1, 71/2, 47/2 and free game. The juniors three cushion play in a group of four.
Roland Forthomme defends the title in three cushion which he won in the final against Eddy Leppens this year. Eddy Merckx and Frédéric Caudron met each other for the bronze medal. Caudron will not show up in the balk-line 47/2 and the free game, like last year, but will play all the other disciplines. Eddy Leppens performs in all disciplines, except the free game.
Patrick Niessen, Peter De Backer are the players who are supposed to compete for some medals with the stars in these disciplines.
The Multi's in Blankenberge will be launched on Sunday 5 January at 11.00. Then four junior players start in the first round: Andy de Bondt against Thomas Caluwaerts en Wesley van Apers against Geoffrey Dresselaerts. Also at 11.30 two three cushion matches are played: Davy van Havere-Alain Clabots en Frank de Groof-Marco Janssen.
Patrick Niessen, Philippe Deraes en Johan Claessen start their marathon on the opening day in the balk-line games. Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens en Francis Forton come to the table at the second day (11.00), playing their first matches in three cushion.
The last matches are at 20.30 every day.
The group formats in three cushion:
Group 1: Eddy Merckx, Pascal Claus, Kenny Miatton, Johan Claessen.
Group 2: Frédéric Caudron, Martin Spoormans, Bart Ceulemans, Mathy Monnissen.
Group 3: Roland Forthomme, Steven van Acker, Luc Salvo, Ivan Stitschinsky.
Group 4: Peter Ceulemans, Kurt Ceulemans, Michel van Camp, Dirk Weeremans.
Group 5: Eddy Leppens, Francis Forton, Patrick Kesteloot, Marc Celen.
Group 6: Peter De Backer, Ronny Daniels, Henk Blauwblomme, Rudy de Laet.
Group 7: Davy van Havere, Frank de Groof, Marco Janssen, Alain Clabots.
Group 8: Jef Philipoom, Thomas Broux, Tom Persyn, Martin Ravestyn.
The players for the other disciplines:
Free game: Patrick Niessen, Johan Claessen, Peter Vandeloo, Andy de Bondt, Maarten Janssen.
Balk-line 47/2: Philippe Deraes, Johan Devos, Johan Claessen, Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen.
Balk-line 47/1: Patrick Niessen, Philippe Deraes, Eddy Leppens, Frédéric Caudron, Martin Ravestyn.
Balk-line 71/2: Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen, Peter Debaes, Johan Claessen.
One cushion: Peter De Backer, Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Martin Spoormans, Maarten Janssen.
On Saturday 11 januari are the quarter finals in three cushion at 11.00 uur, the semifinals at 20.30. The final is on Sunday at 15.00.
All matches will be broadcast live on Kozoom.com.