Logonewstvcommunitystore

Game Icon3-Cushion

Two oldtimers in a fascinating battle

20-01-2017

Gepubliceerd door frits bakker

commentlinktwitterfacebook
thumbnail
© © Kozoom
Almost 80, still plays fingerlicking 3-cushion

KORTRIJK/SINT NIKLAAS - How often have they played each other, back in the day? Raymond Ceulemans, almost eighty years old, a multi-multi world champion, and Richard Bitalis (71), one time podium finisher, in 1983, Aix les Bains, but still a formidable player. The incomparable class act against the warrior, the imperturbable legend against the king of facial expressions.

This Monday they met again, in the Belgian league, playing for Kortrijk and Mr. 100 respectively. The Frenchman got out of the blocks in a masterful way: 21 -1 in 6 innings, so halftime already in a match to 42. The always stoic Ceulemans thought it was time to put up a fight. Spectators later said: Raymond never batted an eyelid, and was brilliant in the second half, with Richard starting to make mistakes, getting nervous and feeling hunted. Those who were there now have a story to tell. Raymond Ceulemans pulled out all the stops and won the match: 42-40 in 32 innings. The Mr. 100 team followed his lead and beat Kortrijk 8-0.

Frédéric Caudron had an equally rocket-like start against Glenn Hofman. The Duchman, lead player for De Witte Molen, later said: ,,I had shot twice, and was 28-0 behind.'' Caudron opened proceedings with 9, 2 and 17... Hofman got back as far as 39-30 in 13 innings, but lost 50-34 in 14. ,,What an amazing match'', said the man from The Hague: runs of 9, 11, 12 and 17 in a match to 50 points.''
The averages combined, they played 3.000: Caudron 3.571, Hofman 2.428.

Table leader BC Deurne lost a valuable point, mostly because  Frans van Kuyk (who lost 40-17 to Eddy Merckx in Holland last Sunday) played a tremendous match against Torbjörn Blomdahl. The Swede did some scoring in the late innings, but basically had no chance: 50-38 in 22 innings.

De Goeie Queue (6-2 win in Sint Niklaas) now shares the lead with 20 points from 12 rounds. BC Herentals, after a draw with Biljartvrienden, is the number three, but it looks at a 6 point deficit already.

Strong performances on this 12th day of play:
Eddy Leppens beats Eddy Merckx: 50-44 in 26.
Peter Ceulemans beats Ronny Brants: 50-23 in 23.
Jef Philipoom beats Gerwin Valentijn: 50-43 in 36.
Roland Forthomme (run of 12) beats Therese Klompenhouwer: 50-32 in 30.
John Tijssens beats Leon Smolders: 50-30 in 23.
Jean Paul de Bruijn beats Francis Forton: 50-37 in 25.

 

Commentaren