VIENNA - The Belgian Frédéric Caudron has won for more than 350 spectators the final of the World Cup in the Stadthalle of Vienna. He defeated Torbjörn Blomdahl from Sweden in the final 3-1 and also established a world record with 2.420 tournament average. The previous world record was held by Dick Jaspers, who played 2.314 average in 1998 in Hooglede, Belgium.
Frédéric Caudron was in the Stadthalle undisputed the best over three days of billiards at the highest level. He excelled with ultrashort sets, wonderful and sometimes magic caroms, high runs and he demonstrated his class in a field of opponents which are top players one by one.
Torbjörn Blomdahl came the closest of all his rivals: the Swede won in the semi finals the third set, but then had to resign to the mastery of Caudron.
Dick Jaspers (losing to Blomdahl) and Lütfi Cenet (loss against Caudron) finished on the podium as the numbers three overall.
Caudron celebrated his victory as always, modestly, but with a big laugh on his face. It was the eleventh victory in a World Cup after Oosterhout (1997, 1.662 average), Bogotá (1998, 1.523), Roermond (1998, 1.658), Seville (2004, 1.777), Corfu (2007, 1.755), Mexico City (2007, 1.880), Sluiskil (2008, 1.963), Sluiskil (2009, 1.695), Suwon (2009, 1.950) and Matosinhos (2010, 1.476).
This year he lost the final of Filipos Kasidokostas in Hurghada and Dani Sánchez in Matosinhos. The moment of revenge came in Vienna, with an impressive array of matches.
The Belgian won the first set of the final against Blomdahl 15-8 in six innings, the second 15-8 in seven, the third was for the Swede 15-6 in five, the fourth for Caudron again with 15-2 in three innings.
The next goal for the Belgium is the World Cup in Hurghada in December. ,,I still have a good chance to win the overall World Cup, that would be a nice high light for the year.''