BLANKENBERGE - The experts of the balk-lines enter the billiards room in Blankenberge today (Tuesday) for a wonderful match day. Frédéric Caudron, Patrick Niessen and Eddy Leppens, three contenders for titles in these disciplines, are ready for a long day. The audience in the hall and on Kozoom live are looking forward to some great matches.
Patrick Niessen already demonstrated in a late show (yesterday) how he has mastered the balk line to perfection. The multiple European and Belgian champion, defender of the 47/2 title (last year's winner ahead of Eddy Leppens), wants to make a bid for two other titles: 47/1 and 71/2.
His last match against Philippe Deraes in 47/1 was one of great beauty with a run of 168, in which he flawlessly balanced on the lines, concentrated, with lots of feeling, style and perfect ball control.
Patrick Niessen, who is seventh on the all times Belgian championships ranking with 21 titles, plays in the first round of today against Eddy Leppens (13.00, 47/1) and in the last round against Johan Devos (20.30, 47/2) to keep his unbeaten rate. He leads in three game types until now: free game (400 in 2 innings), 71/2 (250 in four innings) and 47/1 (200 in four innings).
Frédéric Caudron, the number one in the Belgian league table with 79 titles ahead of Raymond Ceulemans 61 and Ludo Dielis and Rene Vingerhoedt 30, starts his marathon after having played the preliminaries in three cushion.
The maestro defends three titles of last year and starts with two matches today: first against Johan Claessen (11.00) in the 71/2, in the last round against Peter Debaes (20.30) in the same discipline. The match against Claessen was a warming-up with an amazing run of 173 to the finish.
His comment after the game: ,,I had to stop my first run because of of springing ball.'' But eventually, in the third inning, he could show his high class. ,,This discipline is very hard when you play in all the corners of the table, now I've only seen one corner.''
Two groups are played in three cushion today:
Jef Philipoom, Tom Persyn, Thomas Broux and Martin Ravestyn meet for two places in the main tournament. The second group: Peter De Backer, Rudy de Laet, Ronny Daniels and Henk Blauwblomme.