3-Cushion
How would Claude Fath, the organizer of the Masters, have reacted if he had been in the billiard room this afternoon. With a smile, or with a look of disbelief, like all spectators in the stands? Jef Philipoom made in his match against Ryuuji Umeda two runs of nine: he missed the tenth for the bonus of 500 euros.
It was not the first time in these days: Roland Forthomme had already missed two times on the tenth point, Eddy Leppens and Ryuuji Umda did it this afternoon. Ten is a magic number in the first days of the Agipi Masters, where so many big runs are made in the previous years.
Roland Forthomme rather didn't want to talk about how he missed two times for ten. Eddy Leppens tried to find an explanation. have searched for an explanation: ,,I don't know if it is a mystery,'' he said. ,,But I realise, it can not be coincidence.''
Jef Philipoom had the good feeling in any case that he had saved his tournament in a strong last game (50-42 in 32). He won two matches in his group: two more than last year, when he returned home without any victory. He seeded together with Ryuuji Umeda for next round.
Ryuuji Umeda reached the next round for the first time in three times that he played in Agipi. He wasn't on his best, but was saved by Jérôme Barbeillon. The Frenchman had all chances in his own hand, but played a terrible match against Glenn Hofman, who pushed him out of the tournament with 50-30 in 41.