NEW YORK - The moment of truth is coming up in the Carom Café in New York: soon, in a few minutes, the old champion in billiards will meet the new. Raymond Ceulemans, with his incredible honor roll, against Eddy Merckx, compatriot and reigning world champion.
Two giants at the table, with Raymond Ceulemans as the testimony that old soldiers never die. Why shouldn’t be there a sensation in the air on the second day of the semifinal round? Why would the old master not be able to beat the new champion in three cushion?
The match is one of the highlights of today. Ceulemans and Merckx are performing in Group C which further Eddy Leppens, Harry Pena, Julian Torres and Mazin Shooni.
There should be no doubt: the three Belgians made the selection yesterday in their first matches. They are the leaders in this group with four match points, the three others are actually off with two losses.
Raymond Ceulemans is one of the attractions in the Verhoeven Open this year, where the glorious days revive with the arrival of a dozen world class players.
Torbjörn Blomdahl’s also coming in the first round today, playing against Brian Yi, who yesterday beat surprisingly Hugo Patino (40-33) and only had to bow to Ricardo Carranco (40-38).
Frédéric Caudron, the Belgian number two on the world ranks, is playing against Sameh Sidhom, the third man in the group who still has a chance to threaten the Belgians Caudron and Forthomme. The Belgian champion faces Carlos Palafox.
In the second round today (two hours after the opening round) is planned another interesting match: Semih Sayginer against the Pan American champion Pedro Piedrabuena.
All the matches are live on Kozoom for Premium pass holders.