3-Cushion
LOMMEL – Two top players, friends for life, teammates in both the Belgian and the Dutch league and joint organizers of the Superprestige, closed off the tournament in De Adelberg in Lommel. Entertainment and top class billiards went hand in hand in a tournament that technically is not the Belgian Championship, but is good enough to be mistaken for it.
Frédéric Caudron, stylist and allrounder, quick around the table, was only threatened once in all his previous matches (40 – 39 in the QF against Francis Forton), won the final by 40-26 in ten innings. His opponent was Eddy Leppens, the brave warrior, who had overcome Roland Forthomme and Eddy Merckx in captivating battles, showing character, class and astounding resilience to make it to the final.
The Superprestige, where the audience was entertained by an experienced master of ceremonies, and players used their entrance to add a dash of color to the solemn image of the billiard sport, was given its dream final for the home crowd. The finalists delivered a peak performance: averaging 4.000 and 2.600 respectively.
The prestigious Belgian tournament was first a centre stage for Peter Ceulemans, who excelled with superb qualification matches and high runs. Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx and Roland Forthomme remained unbeaten in the group stage. Caudron, De Backer, Merckx and Leppens played themselves into the semifinals.
Then, only two were left standing, and they would put all sentiments aside for the evening. Caudron versus Leppens, what a grand finale, what a treat for the spectators.
Frédéric Caudron, unafraid of a little pre-match cold war, announced: ,,I know, Eddy is my friend... but for the upcoming hour, he is my enemy.’’ An imperturbable Leppens looked unimpressed. He won the lag, started with seven from the break and followed it with a three (10-1).
It soon got even better: Caudron found his stride quickly with a five in the second inning (10 – 6), following that with eight (11 - 14) which became 12-17 one inning later. From then on, there was no stopping Caudron. He made the gap in the sixth inning when he ran thirteen (a little luck with his 10th point, but oh so many brilliant solutions) to make it 13-30.
Ten points to go for Caudron, at a time when the players were averaging 2.167 and 5.000. Leppens still found it in himself to answer with a ten, closing the gap to 23-30. He delayed the inevitable for a few more innings.
Three innings later, Caudron crossed the finish line in style, to be cheered as the deserving winner.
The way the two semifinals developed, lead the tournament to a bizarre ending. For the first time the two organizers of the Superprestige faced each other in the final. It is historically without precedent that two top billiard players put an event like this together. But to have them both make it into the final, looks like an outright miracle. But then of course, both Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Leppens are amongst the best five players in their country.
A small miracle was nevertheless needed to get Leppens that far. In the quarterfinal, he had to produce a heroic comeback against Roland Forthomme, and then win after two shoot-outs.
In the semifinal against the ever cold blooded Eddy Merckx, Leppens again was inches away from being sent home, as he trailed 25-34. He again exploded on the home stretch, running a thirteen that took him to 38-34. Merckx made it 38-37, then 39-38, and after Leppens had finished, could still equalize from the points.
The world champion did not play a bad break-off, but was left with a tricky round-the-table shot. Before his ball could make the point, a kiss ended his illusions.
Frédéric Caudron had little resistance from Peter De Backer on his way to the final. Running eleven from the break, he took a commanding lead and never gave it away. Caudron lead 27-9 in ten innings, 37-18, 39-20 and after four missed match points, he finished it in 20 innings: 40 – 24.
It was the prelude to a final that would make Caudron’s star shine even brighter.