BLANKENBERGE - The verdict was in clear figures on the scoreboard: Frédéric Caudron-Eddy Leppens 150-20 in eight innings. The champion seemed to be in a flow to beat his opponent. If Leppens had any illusions to grab the title in one cushion, he can store his chances after this afternoon.
The reigning champion had beaten his rival already earlier in the tournament. Then he did it with a smaller difference: Caudron won the 47/1 against Leppens 200-190 thanks to a huge final run of 161.
This afternoon, in one cushion, there was only one man who dictated the game. Caudron made the gap in the second inning with a run of 58, which he broke after a wonderful solution (long-short-long to solve a difficult position) in the next strokd with a pique.
But after two innings at 58-11, Leppens lost the rhythm he never had and Caudron ran to the arrival with solid play and small runs.
Two wins (Caudron beat Devos 150-9 in four innings) bring him in an excellent position to win this discipline, however Patrick Niessen and Maarten Janssen are unbeaten after one session.
Philippe Deraes won his match in free game against Maarten Janssen 400-56 in two innings, Patrick Niessen and Peter Vandeloo played a draw in four innings free game.
Steven Van Acker defeated Kurt Ceulemans in three cushion in a very moderate match. The highlight of the afternoon was certainly the second set of Frédéric Mottet in his duel with Henk Blauwblomme. Mottet had a 1-0 lead in sets and finished the second set from the break off with a run of fifteen.