3-Cushion
LOMMEL - What a beautiful and unpredictable scenario it was: Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx playing the final of the Superprestige in a buzzing atmosphere. The royal duo produced an epic match, won by Caudron from the spots after a 40-40 finish in 20 innings. The two world class players came to a draw after a match that had first been set afire by Caudron, later balanced by a typical Merckx fight back. After scores of 8-2 and 10-4, Merckx changed the tone with a run of nine. Caudron took the lead again at 28-25, an equilibrium was found at 3-37, and after a few defensive innings, Caudron crossed the finish line at 40-37. He watched as Merckx equalized in stone cold fashion, with a three.
The world champion then started the penalty shootout with a majestic run of eight. Merckx now faced an almost impossible task, and he gave up after three points. It was Caudron's second consecutive win, after the spectacular 40-26 in 10 innings last year, versus Eddy Leppens. ,,I realize there is no title attached to this, but for Belgian players this is the most important tournament of the year'', said Caudron afterwards. ,,I do not feel I have shown my very best here, but I have produced a character win, which only makes it better.''
The final match was a worthy conclusion to a tournament that had already seen two spectacular semifinals. Frédéric Caudron and Martin Spoormans on one table, Eddy Merckx and Roland Forthomme on the adjacent one, treating the afternoon audience in the filled Adelberg to a breathtaking billiard show. Both matches were good enough to keep the spectators on the edge of their seats.
Martin Spoormans looked on his way to beat the champion for the second time in days, and Roland Forthomme had a stranglehold on the other twofold world champion. Frédéric Caudron trailed 30-18 after a run of 10 by Spoormans, and fought for his very last chance from 36-28. He played exceptionally well in those closing innings, kept a nervous Spoormans in his chair and ran a perfect seven to get back into the match. After Spoormans had missed his match point, he decided the battle in his favor: 40-39 in 22.
The closing moments on the other table were no less exciting, with two players who refused to give each other an inch. Forthomme was in the lead most of the time, but when Merckx had caught up from 13-7 and 20-13 to 34-33, there was still an acceleration by both players awaiting. Roland Forthomme crossed the line first, thanks to a wonderful bank shot in his final run. Merckx, stoic as always, produced the missing three points in the equalizing inning (40-40) and forced a barrage. ,,I did not play the break well'', said Forthomme later, but he repaired with a great second point. His third left a poor position, which caused him to miss the fourth.
Merckx played the shootout like a true champion. Two classy points, and a simple short-angle for his fourth. Forthomme bowed to the winner, made a gesture to suggest that he took off his hat, and left the arena with his head held high.
What a display it had been, those two semi's leading up to the great final of the Superprestige.
21-year-old Andy de Bondt started his match for the juniors against Geoffrey Dresselaerts as if it was an exhibition. The young Belgian, a participant in the WC for under 22's in Sluiskil this month, had a super start with 21 points in his first 6 innings, helped by a run of 9 in a match to just 25. It would eventually take him 24 innings to win 25-9. Dylan Parent won the final for players under 19.
During the closing ceremony, Pierre Cornelissen announced his retirement from the BTS, organizer of the Grand Prix tournaments and the Superprestige. He also presented his successor: Kurt Ceulemans. He has the noble task of repairing the trust between the Belgian Federation and the BTS.