SAINT-MAUR - On the day before he turned 37, Willy Gérimont won his first Masters title in France by beating Johann Petit in the balk-line 71/2 final. After four defeats in finals and many third places, the Chartres player finally could celebrate the title. He won the final match against Johann Petit 200-27 in five innings, his best match in the tournament. In the double knockout, the later champion first defeated Patrick Dupont 200-53 in 11 and then was beaten by Johann Petit 200-166 in 16 innings.
In his next match, Gérimont could reach the semi-finals after a hard fight with Pascal Dessaint: 200-173 in 15 innings. As a result, he met Jean-François Florent to battle it out for a place in the final. Thanks to a run of 119, Gérimont took a big lead 175-65 in four innings, four innings later he took the match 200-155.
The final against Johann Petit was a high class performance with a series of 55-1-83-19-42. Willy Gérimont finished 17.56 overall, Johann Petit, the number two, 15.67, Jean-François Florent third with 23.12 (best match of the tournament 200 in three innings), Fabio Venditelli completed the podium with 18.12.
Willy Gérimont, second left, on the podium with Johann Petit, Jean-Francois Florent and Fabio Venditelli.