Carom
BLANKENBERGE - Three Belgian titles he won in the past, until this morning. And all three of them in free game, scored in three championships in a row: 2003 (against Frédéric Caudron), 2004 (against Patrick Niessen) and 2005 (also against Niessen).
For the fourth title, Johan Claessen realized on the penultimate day of the Multi's, this was not his year so far. He wasted his chances in the free game with a loss to Patrick Niessen, when he scored only 48 points in five innings.
But ;ppl how bizarre a championship can come to an end.
Patrick Niessen started the final round two match points ahead and had to beat Maarten Janssen, who lost all his three matches.
And Johan Claessen faced Andy de Bondt, the young boy: Claessen was two points behind, but had a better average (106.00/92.30), because he finished in between a match in two and one inning.
,,We had to play at ten o'clock, so early in the morning and actually I wanted to look at two tables,'' said Claessen after the match, looking back at the showdown. ,,I had to win myself, of course and then wait if Patrick lost, that was my only chance to win the title.''
Patrick Niessen started from the break off himself and missed after eight points (a misque): his opponent Maarten Janssen came to the table for an incredible stunt: He got the ball under control and started off the maximum run of 400.
Meanwhile, Andy Bondt had missed after twenty points: Johan Claessen knew what he had to do: finish the 400 points in one inning.
What a showdown: Maarten Janssen who stitched together 400 points and Johan Claessen also crept slowly towards the end with the title in sight.
Two matches in one inning... the title for Johan Claessen, the fourth in his career.
On the podium he was flanked by Patrick Niessen, who still has the opportunity to win two other titles. Philippe Deraes finished on third place.