BLANKENBERGE - The life of Roland Forthomme (or better his tournament) has been saved. Where he has found the strength and the character to turn an almost hopeless match against Tom Persyn into a curious victory? Probably nobody could answer that. But the most capricious of all top players in Belgium did it, from trailing 2-0 to a 3-2 win, like a cat with seven lives. The killer was dead, long live the killer.
The 33-year-old Tom Persyn, a postman from Lier, will remember the match for many years. He was leading 2-0 (15-7, 15-14), lost the third set (15-12), was 7-0 behind in the fourth set, that's why everybody thought his end was near, but suddenly he attacked with a run of thirteen to 13-7.
Who would give just a penny for the chances of Roland Forthomme at that moment. He was dying on his chair, but how powerful was his final shot, how strong was the character in his finish?
Forthomme bent the 13-7 to a 15-13 win, went on and on with his opponent in the fifth set, but then took the win with a run of six to the finish. Finally the high class had triumphed, although Forthomme showed a deep respect for his opponent after the match.
Patrick Niessen won his one cushion match this evening against Johan Devos. The match had a long and slow run, then Niessen finished with 51: 150-64 in 17 innings.