Carom
BLANKENBERGE - Two Belgian star players, who were in the three-cushion final last year, face each other for the final again at the Belgian championship this afternoon at 15.00. The sixfold champion Eddy Merckx defends his title in that match, Eddy Leppens (six times losing finalist in ten years) wants to be rid of a syndrome finaly: the eternal second.
Eddy Merckx can make a double hit: not only a new Belgian title, with the ranking points (30) he will remain on top of the world ranking. The Korean world champion Sung-Won Choi is the new number one if Merckx will lose the final, with a Merckx title he remains the leader in the world.
Eddy Leppens dealt in the semi-finals on Saturday with Jef Philipoom, after a weak start (13-2 down in seven innings). Philipoom had a poor second half of the match and was beaten 40-26 in 27.
On the other table, Eddy Merckx and Peter Ceulemans were in balance for a long time with scores 26-23 and 31-28 (Merckx). Ceulemans still led 33-31, but eventually Merckx took the win with 40-37 in 26 innings.
Patrick Niessen took his third title, in balk line 47/1 after a final win iover Eddy Leppens 200-25 in two innings. Leppens was second, Philippe Deraes third with a minimal difference in average ahead of Robby Sonck.
This morning, Sunday, Patrick Niessen is looking for his fourth title in the free game.
The final score of 47/1:
1 Patrick Niessen 8-40.00-200
2 Eddy Leppens 6-18.38-115
3 Philippe Deraes 2-11.38-54
4 Robby Sonck 2-11.22-73
5 Eddy Berger 2-9.18-42
The schedule for the final day:
11.00:
Free game:
Deraes-De Bondt
Niessen Janssen
One cushion:
Caudron-De Backer
Leppens-Spoormans
14.30: Final juniors
15.00: Final Merckx Leppens.