BLANKENBERGE - The last title in the Belgian Nationals went to Eddy Merckx, who won the 3-cushion event in a stunning final match against Eddy Leppens (40-23 in 10) with a 10 start from the break and a finish with eight. The champion showed himself extremely happy with his gold medal and with the level in the final: ,,The great feeling to win in such a venue and in such a great match with four average. That's amazing, it's like a dream that comes true.''
Eddy Merckx already started off with a mental tap: ten from the break and 15-3 in four innings. When Leppens started a counter attack with a run of eleven (15-14), the game sprang to live. But the next sprint of Merckx (6) brought the score to 21-14 and two innings later to 29-17 in eight.
The end came for the new champion, who won the Belgian title for the eighth time, with a final run of eight. The Multi championship could'nt get a more spectacular apotheosis.
The kings discipline was the grand finale of an all-round successful tournament, with high quality matches in all disciplines, high runs, such as Eddy Leppens' 25 in 3-cushion, the awe inspiring class demonstrated by Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen in balkline, the surprising victory of Peter De Backer in 1-cushion, and most of all the tremendous turnout of spectators.
In the traditional home of the casino Blankenberge, the arena had now been set up on a different floor, with a larger capacity of 400 seats, which were all filled on the final few days. It was another welcome boost for billiards in Belgium, following the recent World Championship 3-cushion in Antwerp.
The multi's have for years been a guaranteed hit event. Its strength is, that spectators have four tables to watch, and can pick their favorite discipline to watch, as well their favorite player(s).
The 3-cushion event with 32 participants was the backbone of the event, and it lived up to its promise, but the other games got plenty of attention as well. Two world class players in the balkline disciplines, Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen, produced true gems of technique in 47/1 and 71/2. Victory went to Caudron twice, but never before was Niessen this close to his rival.
A nice piece of trivia? Patrick Niessen closed the week with 893 caroms without missing: 293 in 47/2 against Leppens, 200 in 47/1 against Ravestyn and 400 in free game against Claessen.
,,I have rarely seen him this strong'', admitted Caudron. The world champion in 3-cushion, who leaves for Korea tomorrow for demonstrations in the room of one of his sponsors, lost the title in 1-cushion on the final day, a title he has won on no less than 18 occasions. His streak was broken by Eddy Leppens (three times) and today's winner, Peter De Backer.
It was a surprise victory, as Caudron was miles ahead of de Backer in average. But from the get-go, Caudron was put under pressure and via 95-30 and 135-30 had to bow his head: 150-53 in 9 innings.
The new champion was elated. ,,I don't compete internationally anymore because of my business, everybody knows that. Sometimes I watch on Kozoom and wish I was there. All the more joy for me, when sometimes I manage to beat these top players.''
Frédéric Caudron added two more titles to his resume, bringing his tally to 81, ahead of Raymond Ceulemans (61), Ludo Dielis and René Vingerhoedt (30). Patrick Niessen also won twice (47/2 and free game), to climb to 6th place on the all-time list, just ahead of grand names like René Gabriels, Emile Wafflard, Jos Vervest and Tonny Schraauwen.
On the final day Patrick Niessen won his match in free game against Johan Claessen 400-1 in one inning. Andy de Bond, a talented player as well in the classic games, grabbed the junior title in three cushion by a win against Wesley van Apers: 30-19 in 31 innings.
Roland Forthomme, the former champion in three cushion, climbed the podium for the bronze medal after a win against Davy van Havere 40-25 in 18.
The stages at the Belgian championships:
Three cushion:
1 Eddy Merckx 14-1.879-11
2 Eddy Leppens 12-1.948-25
3 Roland Forthomme 12-1.707-10
4 Davy van Havere 8-1.161-10
5 Peter De Backer 8-1.719-11
6 Frédéric Caudron 8-1.613-12
7 Peter Ceulemans 6-1.393-11
8 Steven van Acker 6-1.293-16.
Free game:
1 Patrick Niessen (266.66)
2 Johan Claessen (152.50)
3 Maarten Janssen (121.85)
Balkline 47/2:
1 Patrick Niessen (133.33)
2 Eddy Leppens (75.00)
3 Philippe Deraes (63.08)
Balkline 47/1:
1 Frédéric Caudron (53.33)
2 Patrick Niessen (60.36)
3 Eddy Leppens (29.09)
Balkline 71/2:
1 Frédéric Caudron (66.66)
2 Eddy Leppens (30.34)
3 Patrick Niessen (68.66)
One cushion:
1 Peter De Backer (8.82)
2 Frédéric Caudron (17.34)
3 Eddy Leppens (9.41)
Juniors three cushion:
1 Andy de Bondt (0.714)
2 Wesley van Apers (0.652)
3 Thomas Caluwaerts (0.546).