3-Cushion
HOOGLEDE - Three finals they played against each other in a ranking tournament this season, once they met in the final of the Belgian championship in Blankenberge in January, where Eddy Merckx won after a rare thriller. This afternoon they are facing each other again in the final of the Belgian Cup.
Frédéric Caudron defeated Eddy Leppens earlier this afternoon. Eddy Merckx won in the semifinal against Ronny Brants. The final will be a duel between the two best three cushion players in Belgium this season. Eddy Merckx won two of the three finals in the ranking tournaments this season against his big rival, he is the Belgian champion, but the question is whether he can repel Caudron now, who is already for a long time in a great form.
The Belgian audience and the followers on intenet are ready for the final, after a tournament that lasted three days and in which also was played for the Belgian Cup on the small table.
Frédéric Caudron had to go to extremes to shake off Eddy Leppens in the semis. Leppens had lost the two first sets (15-12 and 15-3, after a run of eleven of Caudron), but fought back in the next two sets (15-11 and 15-8).
In the deciding set Leppens led 5-1, later also 9-6, but after a fatal mistake in the last innings Caudron could finish with three: 15-11 in 8 innings.
Eddy Merckx had an easy match against Ronny Brants, who made a tired impression after a stunning semi-final against Roland Forthomme yesterday evening. Merckx won in three sets: 15-7 (15), 15-9 in five (with a run of seven) and 15-1 (4) in the final set.
The final Merckx-Caudron starts at 15.00 and can be followed directly on Kozoom for Premium pass holders.