BLANKENBERGE – The world's best billiards player is also the best player in Belgium again. Frédéric Caudron won the Belgian three-cushion title this Sunday afternoon in a final match against Peter Ceulemans in which he started with 14, saw that Ceulemans came back to 27-23, but finally the margin created to finish it off The phenomenon is back in his home country: after his Korean adventure, Caudron became world champion in his home country last year and is also participating in the Multi Championships. There, he won the title in a match in which he defeated Peter Ceulemans: 40-29 in 18 innings.
At 57 years of age, He will compete next year, alongside Peter Ceulemans, as the numbers 1 and 2 of these Multi Championships in Viersen. Caudron is also back in the rankings after winning his world title in the final against Eddy Merckx last year. He is currently ranked 8th in the Event rankings, with Myung Woo Cho, Dick Jaspers, and Eddy Merckx ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Caudron's victory at the Belgian championship was briefly in jeopardy. The ever-dangerous outsider Ronny Brants had already defeated Eddy Merckx 40-38 earlier in the tournament. On Sunday morning against Caudron, an almost-sensation followed: Brants forced his opponent into a costly comeback after finishing the match first. Caudron equalized, however, Brants didn't score enough in the shootouts, and Caudron still won the match.
The Multis had already lost Jef Philipoom and Roland Forthomme in the preliminary stages, while Peter Ceulemans won twice with a score 40-39, first against Francis Forton and later against Andy de Bondt.
The quarterfinals were played on Saturday with Frédéric Caudron, Peter Ceulemans, Ronny Brants, Peter De Backer, Steven van Acker, Kurt Ceulemans, Danny Wuyts, and Andy de Bondt. Caudron was the best winner against Van Acker, 40-20 in 19 matches.
Peter De Backer finished third on the podium after defeating Ronny Brants in the small final, 40-26 in 33 matches.
The Belgian championship for juniors under 25 was won by Toon Bollansee, who defeated Nick Rosier 30-27 in 47 matches. Noah Rosier finished third with a victory over Samuel Vanderveken.
