1-Cushion
Ronny Brants almost shouted out his luck and enjoyed intensely his victory. The 50-year-old amateur among many semi-professionals and pros in the Belgian championship had a glorious day. He defeated Eddy Leppens with a cool score (3-0) and dominated the whole race: 15-13, 15-5, 15-5.
,,I can not tell you how happy I am'', said Brants. ,, ,,And nobody knows how I come here to play billiard. I came home tonight at half past two from a trip to Paris and only had a few hours sleep. Tomorrow it's even worse. I've got a day off from my boss to play here in the quarter finals, but because of that I have to work tonight. I come to play the semifinal match tomorrow without sleeping.''
Ronny Brants is working works for a courier service and is a pure amateur in billiards. But anyway there are every year exceptional highlights of his career. Like last year at the end of the Belgian league, when he beat Frédéric Caudron. And now in his match with Eddy Leppens. ,,I also defeated him two years ago here in Blankenberge.''
,,I really can always be motivated for the Belgian championship'',he says. ,,And for the Belgian Cup in Hooglede. I always play my best matches in those tournaments. At the Belgian championship I've played three times the semi-finals: in 2004, 2006 and 2009, when I lost against Roland Forthomme.''
The match against Eddy Leppens today was quite smoothly. The two players had a discussion after a carom Ronny Brant made in the second set. ,,Eddy thought it was not a pure shot, but I was sure it was'', Brants said later.
The debate was so fierce, that the referee, Franky Deconinck, after the match was dazed about it. Referees coordinator Georges Rottie said: ,,He came to me afterwards and said he wants to stop. But I reassured him, I said, in football there are so many decisions about dubious penalties and offside goals. You must be strong enough to work it up and go further with this beautiful hobby.''
Ronny Brants will play in the next round against Frederic Caudron.