Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The Belgian championship has four matches to go until the end. Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen took the last titles in the balk-line games last night. They closed the day, Caudron with his second, Niessen with his first title.
On the final day Peter De Backer and Frédéric Caudron play the decisive match in one cushion at 12.00 and Roland Forthomme and Eddy Leppens meet at four o'clock this afternoon (Sunday) in the apotheosis of the eight-day festival: the three cushion final. Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx meet in the battle for third place.
The run-up to the final day, was a battle in two balk-line games. Patrick Niessen won the 47/2 in a direct duel with an exciting finish. Niessen sparkled with a 196 run, which brought him close to the end. Leppens aswered quite well and reached the finish in five innings.
But Niessen, with six caroms to go, equalized from the spots. Both players thus ended up with seven match points. Patrick Niessen took the title due to a better average: 92.30, Leppens 48.00.
Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen dazzled the audience (more spectators than ever in the Blankenberge casino) in a gruesomely beautiful match. The two best Belgian balk-line players had the same match points before the final match (6), Caudron averaged 83.33 and was much better than Niessen with 46.87.
Niessen started the job with a wonderful run of 182, but then made a resté dedans. Caudron asked the lady referee to clean the balls, went to the table and flaunted with a maximum 250 run to the finish.
It was his second title after 47/1. Today (Sunday) he plays for his third against Peter de Backer in one cushion.