The Belgian champion in three cushion seldem will have been suce a thriller as sunday in the Casion in Blankenberge, where Eddy Merckx and Frédéric Caudron competed for the title. After 2-2 in sets and 14-14 in the decisive fifth set Merckx renewed his title. The match was a real propaganda for the Belgian three cushion, not only in tension, but also in quality. Both players, the champion and the one who lost on one point, finished in the final with an average of 2.133.
The five sets were vere spectacularly as well, because after the first set, which was won by Merckx 15-12, the reigning champion led 9-3 in the second set. Then Caudron suddenly showed his great class finishing the match with a run of twelve.
Merckx again took the lead in the third set, which he won 15-8 and then he took an average of 10-4. But again Caudron fought back impressively and took the set with a run of eleven!!
Caudron was the fastest starter in the deciding set. He lead 7-1 and two innings later 12-1, but then Merckx came back in the match with a run of ten. The last sets really were breathtaking: Caudron missed a matchbal, Merckx thought he finished with a cushion first carom, but the point was was rejected by the referee, because his ball only tipped two cushion, the referee said. Caudron missed again and then Merckx finished and took the win.
The new champion is also the champion of last year. Merckx now has six Belgian titles in three cushion, just as much as Caudron. ,,I could'nt believe what happened in the last innings'', Merckx said, looking extremely happy after his win. ,,This was a final I've never seen, unbelievable.''