Jef Philipoom, the roaring lion from Pulderbos

BLANKENBERGE - The Multi championships in Blankenberge get ready for the last two preliminary rounds in three cushion today. Frédéric Caudron continues his long mission with three matches against Davy van Havere, Marc Celen and Frédéric Mottet and ends the day with a balk-line match against Robby Sonck. The other three cushion group is headed by Peter Ceulemans: Martin Spoormans Wesley de Jaeger and Danny Wuyts are his competitors. The last two sessions of the day are decisive for the schedule in the knock-out, in which sixteen players will show up for the title race

Jef Philipoom, with the fighting spirit of a roaring Pulderbos lion, was fabulous with his high runs against Kurt Ceulemans in the late night. He started with nine from the break and hit the final gap in the closing innings with twelve (40-32 in 15). Philipoom leads the ranking of winners after six of eight groups on average (1.739), but Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme (both 1.690), Ronny Daniels and Steven van Acker have six match points.

With three points out of two matches (a victory against Marc Roofthooft and a draw against Francis Forton), Philipoom needed a draw at least in his match with Ceulemans. Two high runs decided the match. Kurt Ceulemans fought bravely, but finally had to bow under the pressure from Philipoom's high class. For the moment, Ceulemans' average as third and eliminated player, with 1.458 is even higher than the best number two of all groups: Francis Forton with 1.363.

In the other group, three players finished with four match points. Peter De Backer, Sven van Orshaegen and Henk Blauwblomme were also close in average. De Backer (1.195) took the first place ahead of Van Orshaegen (1.009) and Blauwblomme (0.945), who managed to beat De Backer 40-36 in 28. Patrick Niessen and Frédéric Caudron closed the fourth day with a balk-line and one cushion victory. Caudron, however, had some troubles to deal with Eddy Leppens in the 71/2 (runs 84 for Caudron, 81 for Leppens), but had a better finish and won 250-230 in 9 innings. Therefore Leppens is out for gold in this discipline. 

Patrick Niessen could keep his best guns for the last two sessions, in which he first defeated Johan Devos in the 71/2, 250-129 in six (run 144) and in his second match Robby Sonck in the 47/2: 300-16 in four, run 261. Frédéric Caudron won his one cushion match against Frédéric Mottet 150-31 in ten. Maarten Janssen remains leader in the free game with three wins: he plays for gold against Patrick Niessen, Sunday morning at 11.00. Niessen is the proud leader in the 47/2 with six points and 90.00. Leppens and Niessen compete for the title in the 47/1, Saturday at 14.00. On Friday at 20.30, Niessen and Caudron face in the crucial match in 71/2. Both players are still unbeaten, Niessen after three games, Caudron after two matches.

Caudron and Leppens, the two leaders in one cushion until now, play on Sunday at 11.00. Peter De Backer and Francis Forton are still at the bottom with no points, but played only one match so far. Frédéric Mottet drew on Wednesday night against Leppens in a long match (150-150 in 19).

The shortest matches on Wednesday came from Maarten Janssen in the free game against Philippe Deraes (400-26 in two), Eddy Leppens, in 47/2 against Robby Sonck (300-70 in three), Leppens in 47/1 against Maarten Janssen (200-4 in four) and Patrick Niessen in 47/2 against Robby Sonck (300-16 in four).

Peter De Backer, winner in the group with three men on top

Today's matches (Thursday) in the first session are:

11.00:
Three cushion: Caudron-Mottet and Van Havere-Celen
Free game: Niessen-Sonck
47/1: Leppens-Deraes

13.30:
Three cushion: Spoormans-De Jaeger, Peter Ceulemans-Danny Wuyts and the winners from the first round in Caudron's group.
In the classic games:

15:30, 47/1: Niessen-Forton, 71/2: Leppens-Sonck.

18.00: 47/2: Leppens-Janssen

20.30: one cushion: Leppens-Forton, 71/2: Caudron-Sonck.

The ambiance in the arena through the eyes of Ivan Stitschinsky