Carom
BLANKENBERGE - He knows himself better than anyone else, that there are some of those miraculous days in the life of a billiards champion. Eddy Merckx has a world record that probably may never be improved (fifty caroms in six innings, made in 2011). There he surprised the world, in an era when three cushion evolved... but this record of Merckx was never approached.
However... what he did today (Friday, January 9th, 2015) at the Belgian championships in Blankenberge, was absolute superior, masterly and world class again.
The Belgian champion and world's number one was close to an early elimination by Kurt Ceulemans, the eldest son of the legend Raymond: he faced a large deficit (32-22) in a match to 40 points. The champion seemed down and out, the audience watched breathlessly.
What could he do, how could Merckx be able to escape? But then... after a miss of his opponent, the 46-year-old reigning champion went to the table for a final run that he later called the most wonderful of his career.
Five, ten, fifteen caroms... and finally the last three.
With eighteen caroms in one inning, straight to the finish: Merckx 40, Kurt Ceulemans with one in the equalizer, to a final score 40-34 in 15 innings.
,,This is amazing, really amazing'', said Merckx with his brightest smile he can show after such a fantastic show. ,,What I thought when I was sitting there on my chair? I don't know, actually I hadn't done so much wrong sof far. Kurt just could not miss. I just sat there and rea;ozed the knife was at my throat.''
He didn't feel the despair of a certain shutdown, he said. Never say never, with Eddy Merckx, the miracle man. Just remember that fifty points in six innings with runs of 4-9-26-7-0-4.
But still ... it's not from this planet. ,,I don't think there are players who did it before, a run of 18 to the finish. For sure not in an important championship like this, being so close to the elimination. That's the most special, the most spectacular run in my career.''
Eddy Merckx will face Roland Forthomme in the quarterfinals, tormorrow. Eddy Leppens was playing his match in the shadow of the best player in this round, but showed his great form and confidence against Tom Persyn: 40-27 25.
Leppens plays in the next round against Steven van Acker.
