Free game
RONCHIN - Benoît Legros was the winner of the French Masters in free game this weekend in Ronchin. In the final match he defeated Jean-François Florent. The victory was his second in two years after the title in balkline 71/2 last year in Ronchin. He was second last year in the free game behind Olivier Careaux.
Legros finished off with 134.08. After a flawless start (400 points 1 inning) against Julien Florent, Legros was then defeated by Eric Castaner in one inning. In the double knockout for a place in the semi-finals Legros defeated the reigning champion Olivier Careaux: 400-144 in four innings.
In the semi-finals, the later champion beat Benjamin Ikkache in four innings (400-299) in a match in which both players had chances to win. In the final Benoît Legros was facing Jean-François Florent. He took the title in two innings with runs of 126 and 274. Florent scored twelve points in his first inning and one more from the equalizer.
Second was Jean-François Florent with 63.91 average. He outplayed the favourite Eric Castaner, who had 400.000 average after two matches in the double knockout. That match could either go two ways: Florent won 400-366 in 4.
The podium was completed by Eric Castaner (average 194.33) and Benjamin Ikkache (99.90). Defending champion Olivier Careaux was sixth with 65.20 average.
The billiard Canon d'Or from Ronchin, which is organizer countless years of national and international tournaments, continued to be an excellent host.
