Agipi final: Roux beats Bury with penalty shots

RONCHIN - The final match in the French championship three cushion, with two players from the famous Agipi team (Jérémy Bury and Jean-Christophe Roux), turned out into a real thriller with high tension until the last caroms. The outsider, Roux, won the title for the sixth time in his career, after a draw in the regular match, followed by two penalty runs. Both players fought out an extraordinary battle in Ronchin's billiard center, where the spectators were on the edge of their seats when the tension was growing.

Jérémy Bury led 37-31 in the 20th inning when Roux came to the table for a fantastic nine. With the break-off in the equalizer, followed by two tough, great points, Bury made the draw: 40-40 in 21 innings. In the first penalty shots, Roux started and broke off with only one point. Suddenly, the best cards seemed in the hands of Bury, but the French top players also missed his second, a round-the-table shot, which he barely missed.

The second session raised the tension. Roux scored a two and missed the third, a short angle shot. Bury could finish it off, made the break-off, but missed his second point. The battle was decided: Roux is the new French champion, his sixth title in total. Bury remains on four titles.

The champion's average was 1.360, the second best of the tournament. He made his 200 caroms (5 times 40) in 31, 30, 35, 30 and 21 innings, his opponents were Jean-Jacques Boudin, Pierre Soumagne, Jérôme Barbeillon, Frederick Beghin and finally Jeremy Bury. His best run of 9 was the best of the tournament, shared with Fréderic Beghin and Jérémy Bury.

The favorite of the tournament, Jérémy Bury, had already a narrow escape in his match against Xavier le Roy, when he played another draw and won the penalty shots.

Bury obtained the best average (1.481) and signed up for the best match (2.352). He loses twelve points for the world ranking and drops from 246 to 234, but retains his ninth place.

Fréderick Beghin won his first medal at the French masters, averaging 1.215 in four games. His two best matches and wins in Ronchin: against Jérôme Barbeillon in 25 and vs Pierre Soumagne in 27 innings.

Cédric Melnytschenko (1.104) was honored by the second bronze after his win against Jean Reverchon in the quarters. He then lost to Bury in the semifinals (40-22 in 24).

The top eight of the tournament with averages:

1 Jean-Christophe Roux 1.361
2 Jérémy Bury 1.481
3 Cédric Melnytschenko 1.105
4 Fréderick Beghin 1.216
5 Xavier le Roy 0.944
6 Jérôme Barbeillon 1.148
7 Pierre Soumagne 1.061
8 Jean Reverchon 1.098.