Carom
BLANKENBERGE - Early in the morning, when most of his colleagues just're waking up, Eddy Leppens puts on his sporting shoes for a short run on the Boulevard of Blankenberge. He feels fit when he starts the day like that, gains some inspiration and can optimally concentrate at the billiard.
The shape is somewhat less, for some weeks already, the passion for the game is always there when he appears to the table. ,,I will do anything to come back and improve my form'' said Leppens this afternoon after his win against Peter Ceulemans. ,,The feeling will slowly be back, I'm sure of that.''
Whether he is in his best form or not: Frédéric Caudron will need a tough battle, in tomorrow's semi-finals against his friend and teammate. The signal in advance was clear.
Caudron himself won his duel with Jef Philipoom in 24 innings after an enthralling final (40-37), Leppens did only one inning better turn against Peter Ceulemans: 40-26 in 23.
The difference is minimal: we cam expect a wonderful match between Caudron and Leppens.
For his tenth victory in a row (two in 47/1, three in 71/2, three in one and two now in three cushion), Caudron needed a blistering endrush to beat Philipoom.
The former world champion from Pulderbos had the better start (15-9), Caudron leveled and made a small gap with 8 to 21-16 in the thirteenth, ran out to 30-21 in the fifteenth with six, but Philipoom responded immediately with eight.
On 39-33 Caudron missed his first matchbal. Philipoom did a valiant effort, but stranded at three caroms from the finish by an unfortunate kiss.
Eddy Leppens and Peter Ceulemans balanced until twelve innings (16-16), from that moment Leppens dominated with 28-24, 32-24, 37-25 and finally 40-26, because Ceulemans barely could score in his last six innings.