BLANKENBERGE - The still reigning Belgian champion Eddy Merckx is still in the race for another title in three-cushion. Frédéric Caudron enjoyed the audience in Blankenberge in a marvellous performance in balk-line 47/1 tonight and the gold digger in the Belgian championship is almost sure now that he will bring home three titles. The calculators among us know for sure: only by a miracle Caudron will not take the titles in one cushion end balk-line 47/1. In the 71/2 he's the leader of the ranking with 6 match points, but has to beat Peter De Backer in their last match. De Backer is second in the rank with five match points.
The demonstration he gave this evening was impressive: two matches in 47/1, first against Peter De Backer 500-97 and in the last session against Patrick Niessen (200-2) were finished in two innings, played in a speed like the balls turn around on the roulette tables fifty meters further on.
Caudron was superior, Caudron was unbeatable, Caudron was tireless and particularly Caudron was unbeatable, like he is throughout the whole tournament, although he says he doesn't feel super fit.
Two disciplines he leaves for the other players: the free game to Patrick Niessen or Philippe Deraes. The two will meet this weekend, Niessen has five points in three matches, Deraes four points in three matches. Even Peter Vandeloo is still not completely eliminated, although he hasn't control over his own chances. He plays his last match against Jean Godeyne and gathered four matchpoints.
Three contenders are left in 47/2, but in all the other disciplines Caudron is superior: in one cushion with six match points in three matches and 23.68 average, in the 47/1 with six points in three and 75.00 average and in the 71/2 with six points and 57.69 average.
Can it still turn out in a bad way for the master? Sportsdirector Freddy Bauwens: ,,Then something very strange must happen, for instance that Caudron loses matches in 35 innings or something like that. That would be a miracle indeed.''
In the evening one more three cushion match was played for the quarterfinals. Eddy Merckx beat the young Steven van Acker, 3-0 (15-10, 15-12, 15-1, average 1.607). Tomorrow Merckx will play the semifinal against Frederic Mottet.
The program for tomorrow (Saturday):
10.00: Free game: Peter Vandeloo-Jean Godeyne. Patrick Niessen-Philippe Deraes.
11.30: Balk-line 47/1: Eddy Leppens-Peter De Backer. Frédéric Caudron-Philippe Deraes.
15.00: Three cushion semi finals: Eddy Merckx-Frédéric Mottet and Frédéric Caudron-Francis Forton. Ladies loosers round: Milenca Stuyk-Jaimie Buelens.
17.30: Balk-line 47/2: Patrick Niessen-Johan Devos and Eddy Leppens-Johan Claessen. Ladies final: Danielle le Bruyn-Karolien Matthys.
20.30: Balk-line 71/2: Patrick Niessen-Johan Devos and Frédéric Caudron-Peter De Backer.