3-Cushion
LOMMEL - The focus was mainly on the first session, in which Eddy Merckx advanced with ease for the semi-finals in the Superprestige and Frédéric Caudron with a strong final shot. Then, in the last evening match, the cracker between Eddy Leppens and Roland Forthomme was scheduled and Martin Spoormans could again show his great form against Ronnie Daniels.
Between the two sessions on Friday night, the tragic death of Ferre van Loco, driving force behind the Superprestige and other events, was remembered among the players and the audience for a while.
Peter De Backer and Frank de Groof were sent home before the break by two of the very best players in the world. Frédéric Caudron needed to recover from a slow start against Peter De Backer, including two big runs.
Peter De Backer, after his loss 40-27 (28), said: ,,We both played strongly for fifteen innings. Then it turned into a match with many defense. I felt good and came rapidly out of the start, but Fred saw that and of course, he didn't let me play. The end was heavily defensive to 28-27. And it was only the question who would find the opening and could benefit. Fred did well with nine, came close to the finish, and finished it off, so, he deserved it.''
Eddy Merckx and Frank de Groof played a match which was actually decided after six innings. Merckx ran a twelve and put 22-4 on the score board. He increased even to 35-8 and closed the books at 40-12 in 16. Frank de Groof couldn't mourn about the outcome, he was happy that he still was in the arena in the final rounds. The 48-year-old man from Schelle is Merckx' big friend for many years.
,,I started playing billiards in Wilrijk, where I was born and later played for Lugo in Ekeren, before there was a hick-up in my career'', he said. ,,I was in the military, got a job and some years later, when I made promotion to the highest league, I had an accident with my finger on holiday. So I've been stopped, for seven years, but now, four years ago, I started again.''
He couldn't blame himself, of course, losing in a match with the defending champion. ,,And certainly not in a match against Eddy, whom I know for many years. We trained a lot together and played many matches, so I improved myself thanks to him.''
And also for Ronnie Daniels and Eddy Leppens, the tournament is over since last night. They both lost, knocked down by Martin Spoormans and Roland Forthomme.
,,Did Spoormans then just play billiards and not golf in this summer'', was the question after his brilliant start in the tournament. The man in form answered with a mysterious smile and will return today, on Saturday, making up for his next mission: Frédéric Caudron.
And certainly, the world champion wants to take revenge for the loss in the group stage against Spoormans.
But so far, Spoormans keeps the audience entertained with his wonderful behavior around the table. He shone again in his match against Daniels with a 40-13 win in 19 innings, over two average, ready for the next clash with the maestro.
Roland Forthomme against Eddy Leppens was not the match which was expected by the home crowd. The Walloon killer dominated from the start, to 11-1, 13-7, 20-2, 25-8 and finally after a run of seven in the last innings to a 40-35 victory, only thanks to a brave equalizer from Leppens.
,,The start of the match was so difficult for me'', said Leppens after the loss, ,,with so many impossible positions. And then, billiards is really a terrible game.''
A nice detail: in the second session of the evening four players were at the billiard without gloves. ,,Thas happens very rarely'', was the comment of one of Kozoom's loyal chatters.
The semi-finals today, Saturday at 14.00 pm:
Spoormans-Caudron
Merckx-Forthomme.