3-Cushion
He had to shake a hundred hands, was offered fifty beers on his way to the dressing room, passed a hedge of supporters who saw him for one oment as the best billiard player in the world. Roland Forthomme had one of his moments of glory in the quarter final match with Jean van Erp. ,, glorious moments. ,,I had no feelings in the beginning of the match, no form and I thought it would be an embarrassment for all those people that I know almost all.''
But on those moments Forthomme is really unpredictable and dangerous for every opponent. The Belgian was far behind, then first made a run of fifteen, closed the gap, saw Jean van Erp run away again and responded with a run of ten.
On a score of 48-48 the only Dutchman who was left in the tournament missed a difficult position for his 49th carom. Forthomme walked to the table, first made a cushion first over five cushions and then got the reward with an easy shot. Roland Forthomme so returns tomorrow for the semi finals after his victory with 50-48 in 34 innings.
Matches of two average for Frédéric Caudron are just very ordinary games. The billiard has no secrets for him in the Kersttoernooi so far, Caudron wins all his matches as if there is no opponent. The Belgian clash with Jef Philipoom had no obstacles. Caudron won 50-25 in twenty innings and finished half an hour earlier than Roland Forthomme on the other table.
,,I feel good, I feel free, but I am careful'', Caudron said after he had ended up with the best average in the qualifying round and then defeated Philipoom in a quick match.
The experience however tells him that a tournament is not won before the final carom is made. ,,See what happens here, with all those runs: two of sixteen, one of fifteen and already so much over ten. What can happen, who knows. Roland Forthomme is best example. He is not in a great shape, but is dangerous for everyone, as he showed this evening. He can make a breakaway at every moment of a match.''