ZUNDERT - What a wonderful moment... in the hour before they met at the table in Zundert: two Belgiabn world class players, both of them at the end of a year full of successes. Frédéric Caudron, after his last World Cup win in Hurghada, who climbed up to the top of the world ranking again. And Eddy Merckx who took thp world titlle in three cushion in 2012. Another great result: both Caudron and Merckx became world champion teams with Belgium in Vierssen.
Two key players in the international three cushion who met each other five and ten times in a year: international in World Cups, the World championship, the Belgian national championship and the Superprestige.
They usually are in balance in their battles, but this year Eddy Merckx showed up as the best in the matches with his great rival.
Before the finale in the Christmas tournament in Zundert, somewhere around the arena, Merckx (when Kozoom asked him) oversaw the year:
,,I won the Belgian championship against Fred, a ranking tournament in Geraardsbergen, the Superprestige final, the semifinal in the World championship in Porto, in the league in Netherlands.''
,,Well...'', he laughed a little shy during the half-hour break between the semifinal and the finals.
Then, actually, Merckx is leading 5-0 for this b
year.
Eddy: ,,Yes... but don't tell Fred now, because that will make him angry.''
What a wonderful moment, making up for a new battle.
And even more: what a prelude to a great final.
What a marvellous match did the two Belgians offer the the full stands in the billiard room.
Eddy Merckx dominated the first part with a 12-run in the third inning (14-4). Caudron responded with 9 two innings later, taking a 23-14 lead in 5.
The match was in balance again in the next five innings (29-27), Caudron ran away to a 36-29 lead, but Merckx made a small gap with a ten-run to 39-36 in 16 innings.
The final was nerve-wrecking and full of tension: Merckx led 44-40 in 18, ran out to 47-42 but then Caudron launched his final sprint: he closed the final with a flawless eight (50-47 in 20) and was rewarded by a thunderous applause.
The two finalists started off the day with a demonstration of their high class in the semifinals. Frédéric Caudron defeated local hero Roland Forthomme 50-33 in 24 innings. Eddy Merckx was even more ruthless for Tayfun Tasdemir, whom he bested 50-15 in 19 innings.
The tournament average of sixteen participants was 1.480.
Frédéric Caudron played a new tournament average record: 2.172