ANDERNOS - Two players for the Kozoom Challenge Cup together had 1150 kilometres to drive today for the matches in Andernos they will play the next three days. Eddy Merckx and Dave Christiani were still 400 kilometres from their final destination around six o'clock this evening after a smooth trip. Maxime Panaia, the young Frenchman in this group, made the trip with his father Antoine from Colmar, 900 kilometres, ten hours underway.
They will finally face a serious test tomorrow, Wednesday, starting at 17.00. With three players at the table, every day to eight sets of ten points, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The matches can be followed live on Kozoom.
Eddy Merckx played his last tournament at the Duke Challenge in the Netherlands and then showed up in a league match in Denmark and Spain. The Belgian travels to the Kozoom Challenge with the attitude he is known for. ''I don't really like the format, but I am neutral about the system. Preferably, I play to 40 or 50 points, but I know that public and organisations want it in a different way, with more tension in the games. So, I just play what the organisations think is the best.''
The two-time world champion leaves for a holiday in a fortnight from May 21 to 28, then the play-offs are upcoming in Denmark and Merckx leaves for Korea on June 14 for two UMB events.
Dave Christiani just returned from his performance at the Masters in the Netherlands, where he played one top match, but was eliminated after the preliminary rounds. The invitation from Kozoom was very welcome. ''I am really looking forward to wash away the disappointment, because after this, it is quiet again for a long time. I hope that the competitions will return soon and that the European Championships in one cushion will be played.'' The Dutchman did not change his opinion about the ten-point-sets. ''For the spectators, like in the Masters, this is the best format, because every set is exciting. That is the most important thing in sport. Especially if you want to get more TV hours, which our wonderful sport certainly can use.''
''As a player, of course it's more difficult, more unpredictable and a bit less fun'', Christiani admits. ''Most of all because I am a series player. I like to make big runs and play high averages. But this is not the format to realize this. High runs are even impossible. Still, we have to do all that makes billiards a TV sport again. We are on the right track. I do think that maybe 15 points or more won sets is a bit more fair. Then you get the lottery effect out of it. Think about snooker, the closer you get to the final, the more frames you get.''
Maxime Panaia is feeling good in the run-up to his first matches since October 2020. ''I am lucky that I am not infected with the virus so far and my family is doing well. My practice didn't change. I usually train 2-3 hours a day, except in the weekends. The situation is very complicated for all of us. That's why it makes me very happy that we can finally play the Kozoom Challenge Cup. My father Antoine (nickname Toni), who played billiards for 40 years and was the inspiration for me to share this passion, has come along. He will unfortunately not be allowed to be a spectator in the arena because of the pandemic.''
Maxime Panaia at the Lausanne Billiards Masters with his father Antoine