Carom
BLANKENBERGE - One champion had just completed his third match in three cushions in the preliminary rounds, two of which he already finished in twenty innings (two average) and in his last in 18. The star player in the arena? Eddy Merckx, the current world's number one in this discipline.
The other great, who eases off in the balk line games this year, showed up for his first time in the arena. He, Frédéric Caudron, started his demonstration of speed and briljant technique in one cushion, although Eddy Leppens came back into the match after a poor start and finished as a feared opponent: but still, Caudron won after his opening run of 62 and after having missed his last point (butage): 150-96 in 8 innings (18.75/12.00).
The champion gala in the final evening turned out into a delicious taste of what the crowded house in the Blankenberge Casino can expect in the upcoming few days. The preliminaries in three cushion, tomorrow (Thursday), finish off the groups in which Frédéric Caudron and Roland Forthomme are the two big favorites.
Eddy Merckx showed his blistering form today, Wednesday, in a group in which he left Tom Persyn behind as runner-up. The still reigning Belgian champion was a way too strong for Andy de Bondt (40-18 in 20), Tom Persyn (40-35 in 20) and in the last round Ronny Daniels (40-30).
Peter De Backer won the other preliminary round, undefeated with wins over successively Bart Ceulemans (40-21 in 25), Steven van Acker (40-22 in 25) and Henk Blauwblomme (40-30 in 21). Steven Van Acker was the runner-up in that group and advanced for the eighth finals.
Andy de Bondt, one of the new kids on the Block, did not play that well in the preliminary round, neither did Bart Ceulemans, who suffered three losses with 21, 14 and 9 caroms.
Six groups of preliminaries in three cushion are finished now. Eddy Merckx tops the ranking from six group winners with 2.068 average and four match points. Eddy Leppens finished 1.739, Peter De Backer 1.695, Jef Philipoom 1.500, Peter Ceulemans 1.428 and Davy van Havere 1.121.
Patrick Niessen continued his fantastic title race on the fourth day with victories over Andy de Bondt in free game (400-3 in one inning) and Philippe Deraes in 47/2: 300-85 in five.
Eddy Leppens entered the arena for three matches. He defeated Eddy Berger in 47/1 (200-112 in nine) and Jean Godeyne in 47/2, 300-23 in 2. His last match against Caudron in one cushion was the evening's highlight. In the closing session, Philippe Deraes showed a glimpse of his balk line class after a few minor performances, with a 205 run in 47/2.