Carom
BLANKENBERGE – If the billiard room in the Blankenberge casino does not snow in during the evening, and if the splashing North Sea waters do not break the dikes, Frédéric Caudron will be crowned Belgian champion in 47/1 in the upcoming days. It’s a title he has in the bag already.
Frédéric Caudron recorded his 11th straight victory, with zero losses. He has 1 match in 47/1 to go (against Leppens), one more in 71/2, for the title (against Niessen), and one in 1-cushion, also for the title (against de Backer).
A 47/1 victory in 5 innings over Niessen in the afternoon session (200 – 13) put Caudron over the top. he is now leading the group with 6 match points from 3 matches, Niessen only has 4 points. Both players have one match to go, Caudron v Leppens and Niesssen v Deraes. But even if Niessen levels Caudron in match points, Caudron will win on average. He is currently on 54.54, Niessen on 19.66.
Niessen, Leppens and De Backer still have a shot at the podium, as well as Deraes who today lost to Leppens: 200 – 33 in 4.
Eddy Merckx is the third of 4 semifinalists in 3-cushion, having beaten Francis Forton today. The world champion played a solid match (1.538), took the lead with a run of 8 and finished 10 points ahead of Forton: 40 – 30 in 26.
Merckx will play the semifinal tomorrow, against the winner of Roland Forthomme-Steven van Acker.