RONCHIN - Yes, Jan-Francois, that's two and it's not over yet.... The title, his second this week, came after palpable tension and emotion at the end of the final between Jean-François Florent and Benoît Deziles-Legros. The missed backhand shot by Jean Francois, the president of the Ronchin club, while playing for two, surprised everyone, as until then the recent French free game champion had played a superb final against the player who seemed to be the man in form or even the favorite given previous averages.
The missed point could have had dramatic consequences for Jean-François Florent, but Benoît Deziles-Legros was not really in the match, this final. With the title in his pocket, Jean-François Florent went back to his chair, his head in his hands, surely with a few tears in his eyes... He got to enjoy this second French Masters title, the 11th of his career and especially the 1st in the big fbalk-line after 3 lost finals from 2012 to 2014!
For this title, Jean-François Florent (average 22.22) first defeated, in the 1st round of the double KO, Nicolas Gerassimopoulos by 200-198, after being 133-198 behind. He then beat Eric Castaner 200-44 in 7. In the mornings, he met Andernosian Gerassimopoulos again in the semi-finals, winning 200-109 in 6 innings. In the final, Jean Francois immediately took control and led 185-34 in 5. It was thought that Deziles-Legros might come back into the match after the three chances offered from the 6th to the 8th innings, but the deficit was too big. Jean-François Florent is now the two-time champion in 4 days, the free game and the 71/2.
Benoît Deziles-Legros (35.19) had made a strong impression in the double KO with a 200-12 win in 2 against Julien Florent and another against Willy Gérimont 200-145 in 3. With an average score of 80 in these two games, 4 times more than all the other participants, he was clearly the man in form! In the semi-final, Eric Castaner led by more than 100 points before Andernosian Deziles-Legros exerted himself and won 200-155 in 8 innings.
Nicolas Gerassimopoulos (19.63) and Eric Castaner (19.96) are third ex-aequo, it is the second bronze medal for the French-Greek player at these French Masters championships after tie-break. The rest of the rankings: Julien Forent 5th with 17.66, Willy Gerimont 6th with 19.78, Patrick Dupont 7th with 17.15, Bernard Villiers 8th with 16.13.
Now it's time for balk-line 47/1 today and tomorrow, then it's the turn of 47/2 on Saturday and Sunday..
Jean Francois Florent, the double champion: free game and 71/2