BLANKENBERGE - The Belgian championships at the Multi's have finished the first session in three-cushion. Roland Forthomme is the first group winner in Blankenberge despite a false start. The Belgian favorite for the title lost his first match to Tom Persyn (40-21 in 24), but then qualified by victories over Maarten Janssen and Philippe Vandendriessche, who finished second and advanced to the next round. The decisive match between Forthomme and Vandendriessche ended in a win for Forthomme 40-21 in 18.
The preliminary rounds in three-cushion continue today, Tuesday, with Group C, in which Peter De Backer, Mathy Monnissen, Bart Ceulemans and Stef van Hees will show up. Also on this third day of the Multi's, Group D will play with Steven van Acker, Martin Spoormans, Luc Salvo and Dany Boutet.
In the balkline games, Johan Devos surprised in the early evening with a win over Patrick Niessen in 71/2. Devos had an early run of 92 and took the win in the fifth inning, 200-108. Also in 71/2, Maarten Janssen won against Philippe Deraes 200-89 in 5.
Niessen did win his second match in 47/2 against Johan Devos 250-10 in 3, Philippe Deraes beat Maarten Janssen 250-193 in 6.
On Tuesday the balkline 47/1 will start with the first matches: Patrick Niessen-Johan Devos, Maarten Janssen-Philippe Deraes. One cushion will also start with the first matches at 15.30: Andy de Bondt-Maarten Janssen, Patrick Niessen-Martin Spoormans. In the last evening round, free game starts with Niessen-De Bondt and Vandeloo-Janssen.
Ismaele Trentino prolonged his title in 5-pins, where he beat Gianluca Memmi, among others, 3-0. Trentino suffered the only loss against Miguel-Angel Bustos.
Three cushion Group F:
- Roland Forthomme 4-1.402-7
- Philippe Vandendriessche 4-1.202-6
- Tom Persyn 4-1.155-7
- Maarten Janssen 0-0.811-6
Roland Forthomme, first group winner in three cushion
5pins final ranking:
- Ismaele Trentino (ABC Binche) 4-12-1.4321
- Miguel Angel Bustos (BC De Jambes) 3-9-1.1992
- Gianluca Memmi (Sud Charleroi) 3-8-1.0711
- Ronny Grysolle (T’s Place) 3-8-0.9823
- Peter Debaes (DOS Roeselare) 2-7-1.0080
- Dirk Acx (Kortrijkse) 0-1-0.5245.