Triathlon
OLOMOUC – What a joy it is to see Eddy Leppens play, this year. Not always do his form and class guarantee shining victories; he mixes his top matches with lesser ones too often fort hat. But when the Belgian is on a roll, he is unstoppable and his game is absolutely world class.
That was the case in the Anag Billiard Cup triathlon this weekend, in Olomouc, Czeck republic. As in the prelims of the World Cup in Suwon, where he played two amazing matches, only to be eliminated by Dick Jaspers later.
It was like that earlier in the year, shortly before he left for New York, in an invitational at Op De Meir, where he beat Barry van Beers in a majestic final with an average of 3.529.
Despite these terrific high’s in Eddy Leppens’ year, he has not yet been able to break into the coveted top-12 in the world.
The Anag Cup in the Czeck republic, a triathlon in 71/2, 1-cushion and 3-cushion, was tailor made for the man who in his own country is always overshadowed by Frédéric Caudron, but who is nevertheless one of the best allrounders in the world.
He excelled in everything in Olomouc, he outdid his opposition in 1-cushion and was in a class of his own in 3-cushion. It made him a deserved winner: he beat Wolfgang Zenkner and Dave Christiani on his way to the knock-out stage, Arnim Kahofer in the quarterfinal, Patrick Niessen in the semifinal, and Raúl Cuenca in the final.
The 32-year old Spaniard from Valencia was also very strong in Olomouc, where he edged Dave Christiani in the semifinal by a single carom and beat his countryman Esteve Mata in the prelims.
He looked on his way to a big upset when he took a big lead in the balkline with a run of 64, and ended the match in the third inning with 33 (100-24).
The second discipline was for Eddy Leppens, who dominated the 1-cushion: 28-2 in three innings, and to the finish in the 4th: 50-27.
Raúl Cuenca looked alive in the 3-cushion when he was leading 5-2. Leppens replied in the 6th inning: the Belgian made a decisive run of 10, helped by a fluke as his 5th point.
His 12 -5 lead basically sealed the match; Leppens took the final and the tournament, winning 15-8 in 8. The Belgian did not hide his joy: he left the table pumping his fist.
,,It gaves me great pleasure to once again win an international event', he said afterwards.
Raúl Cuenca was second in the final ranking, before Patrick Niessen and Dave Christiani.