BRANDENBURG AN DER HAVEL - The best in the world does not mean that you are the best in Europe, Frédéric Caudron said after he had taken his eighth European one cushion title in the Stahlpalast in Brandenburg and added another title to his huge palmares. The Belgian title collector, who took his hundredth victory earlier this year, was again and by far the best at the 2015 European championship.
He faced two French and a French Greek competitor on the final days after the early elimination of Jean Paul de Bruijn, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Xavier Gretillat and Eddy Leppens. The Belgian beat them all in his superior, fabulous style. The revelation Breton, Grégory Le Deventec came closest, but was defeated 120-100 in ten innings.
Bernard Villiers was defeated in the semi-finals 120-46 (in 10) and to close, Caudron kept the best for last. The tough fighter Gerassimopoulos, who also came to times in action this day in the balk-line, kept the balance two innings (22-19), then the Belgian attacked with 38 and 45 to 102-38 to finally take the title at 120 -52 in five innings.
The tournament winner also finished with the best average (560 in 38 innings, 14.73). That's higher than two years ago when Caudron was the last European champion with 11.76 and when he outplayed Bernard Villiers in the final 120-71 in 11 innings. Caudron won his world title last year with 14.63 average.
The elimination at the European championships three cushion, in a thrilling final part by Nikos Polychronopoulos, undoubtedly motivated Caudron even more to extend his European title cushion. He did not say in that way, but the Belgian showed his joy of playing from the start to the end and enjoyed the viewers in the stands with his fantastic ball technics and build-up to the high runs.
,,I play it differently than, let's say, Jean Paul de Bruijn'', Caudron explained again in front of the cameras. ,,It looks less subtle, I keep the balls not so close together, but I gather them, I look for the position and high runs with not too much risk in my playing.''
And when asked what he would rather like to play in this great form: one cushion or three-cushion? ,,I like to play it all, even the balk-lines, but I have to make choices. My life as a professional player is really hard enough.''
He showed his respect for his opponent in the final, who played four matches on one day in one cushion and balk-line. ,,For him it was for sure a tough and difficult day'', said Caudron, who admires the French competition. ,,They have many strong players in the classic games.''
The tournament was mainly disappointing for the world class player Jean Paul de Bruijn, who was eliminated with two defeats in the group stage by Nicolas Gerassimopoulos and Eddy Leppens. The Dutchman, normally the main competitor Caudron, finished far below his average level: 8.166.
Torbjörn Blomdahl was stopped in the group stage by Arnim Kahofer (12.500 against 11.466 for the Swede), Xavier Gretillat went out with 8.636 and the Spaniards Esteve Mata and Raul Cuenca were eliminated with 9.529 and 5.833 average.
