Balk-Line 47/2
Frédéric Caudron's looked very serious on the stage, as if his 73rd Belgian title didn't touch him at the moment. He showed himself very happy, nevertheless, an small hour before behind the scenes. The Belgian record in the 47/2, an overall average of 200.00, still gave him a great satisfaction. He was proud, he said, because the record stood already since 1978 in Aalst, where Ludo Dielis played 155.55 general.
Caudron improved the record in recent days with an exceptional range of matches. Eddy Leppens was beaten in one inning, Robby Sonck in two, Philippe Deraes in one and Patrick Niessen in two.
Patrick Niessen had to give up his title in this discipline for the man who deserved it the most. Niessen was the third on the stage with 67.14 average.
Eddy Leppens was second with 81.58. ,,With such an average you're in Europe at the top, but here in Belgium, with so many top players, you have to play an incredible average to be champion'', Leppens realized.
The stage was occupied by Caudron, Leppens and Niessen, fourth and fifth in the tournament were Robby Sonck and Philippe Deraes. The 53-year old Deraes, who won seventeen Belgian titles in his career, was disappointed with his performance.
,,I play a bad championship'', he confessed. ,,The reason for that is probably that I only play a few games in a year. If you do not play three cushion, there are only a few opportunities. This Belgian championship in fact is the only tournament where you can face other opponents in my specialities. And most of them are professionals. It is increasingly difficult to win of them.''