Free game
BLANKENBERGE - The last performance in his favorite game was the best of his tournament. Patrick Niessen is after a win in his last match against Philippe Deraes (400-0 in 2 innings) champion in the free game. The victory means his sixth title after he won his first in 1996 in Erembodegem.
In the track that led to the championship this year, he defeated Maarten Janssen (400-189 in 4), Jean Godeyne (400-252 in 3), Philippe Deraes (400-0 in 2) and he played a draw against Peter Vandeloo in 4 innings.
He said it just before the tournament: I would like at least to add one title to my palmares.'' He realized it in the game in which he was the strongest in the group, in which the surprisingly strong Peter Vandeloo was his most important competitor.
The average was certainly much less than what the champions did in recent years. Niessen finished 123.07, the same as Peter Vandeloo, better than Philippe Deraes (89.77), Maarten Janssen (80.46) and Jean Godeyne (41.70).
With his championship Patrick Niessen is now together with Philippe Deraes second on the list of all-time Belgian champion in free game. Tonny Schrauwen, who won the title in 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1973 and 1975, is the record holder. Jos Vervest won the championship five times.
Frédéric Caudron is record holder with the maximum 400.00 overall average.