HOOGLEDE - Belgian billiards may boast to have the world champion (Frédéric Caudron), and the nr. 1 on the world ranking list (again Caudron), Eddy Merckx remains the king of his own country. The man who became Belgian champion in Blankenberge also won the Belgian Cup today, in Hooglede, beating Roland Forthomme in a majestic final match.
It was only the second Cup win in his rich career, the first he won against Caudron in 2004. In this year's edition, played in the "Gulden Zonne" in Hooglede, Merckx had to dig deep twice. First in the quarterfinal against Eddy Leppens (3-2 in sets), and unexpectedly again in the final where he lead by 2-0 and 14-3.
Roland Forthomme, ever the fighter, produced one of his typical comebacks to turn the final into a memorable one. Merckx had eliminated Ronny Brants in the semi, Forthomme had done the same with young Thomas Broux, the revelation of the tournament.
The final between the two heavyweights grew to a climax in the third set, when Merckx reached match point at 14-3, but missed. It allowed Forthomme, who had already lost two sets 15-6 (7) and 15-7 (2), to produce the most epic stunt of the tournament: he finished with a run of 12 (15-14), to give the final the duration it deserved.
Tension only grew after Forthomme had also won the 4th set (15-10 in 11) and the audience knew they were in for a final set climax. Again, as he did against Eddy Leppens, Eddy Merckx sprinted away irresistibly when it was needed most. The Belgian champion scored small runs and left his opponent with desperately difficult positions when he missed.
The set went to 5-0 (4 innings), 10-0 (8 innings) and 12-1 after ten innings. Roland Forthomme had one last roar in him when he ran seven to make it 12-8 and put a little scare into the champion, but in the home stretch Merckx made no mistake (15-10). Ronny Brants beat Thomas Broux for third place: 2-0 (15-10, 15-13, 1.875/1.533).
Eddy Leppens won 5th beating Frédéric Caudron (2-1, 15-8, 5-15, 15-12, Caudron 2.692, Leppens 2.500). Jef Philipoom won 7th beating Kenny Miatton.
Dany Darcis was the Belgian Cup winner at the small table.
Final result for the Belgian Cup 2014 (top ten with average and high runs):
1 Eddy Merckx, 1.636 (15)
2 Roland Forthomme, 1.393 (12)
3 Ronny Brants, 1.280 (8)
4 Thomas Broux, 1.084 (9)
5 Eddy Leppens, 1.471 (7)
6 Frédéric Caudron, 1.510 (9)
7 Jef Philipoom, 1.145 (8)
8 Kenny Miatton, 0.915 (8)
9 Martin Spoormans, 1.477 (6)
10 Davy van Havere, 1.037 (5)
Top four small tables:
1 Dany Darcis (0.683), 2 Yves Welvaert (0.881), 3 Yves Franken (0.675), 4 Geoffrey Clabots (0.619).
