CAP FERRET - He felt like the king of the world in billiards for a day, Ruben Legazpi of Spain. He cheered for five minutes with wonderful, emotional gestures and celebrated his victory in Kozoom's Challenge final as if it was a World Cup or a world title. The triumph of the Spanish player, who is number fifty in the world rankings, was almost unreal in such a fantastic field of players. Ruben Legazpi beat them all in a row in this setting: the top three in the world, Dick Jaspers, Marco Zanetti and Eddy Merckx. The last victory, fought against Merckx in a breathtaking 4-3 match, was the highlight of the tournament.
For Ruben Legazpi himself, for the spectators in the stands and on Kozoom, for his Spanish fans at home: ''I'm so happy with this success, this feels so good with all those world-class players'', the ever friendly and modest Spanish billiard player spoke afterwards in front of the Kozoom cameras. ''It was incredibly exciting in the final, I could not stroke anymore in the end, to make the match ball. That's how nervous I was. It was actually an easy ball, easy to make, but I was shaking on my legs. I was so happy that I could make the winning ball.''
He did'nt get the victory lightly from Eddy Merckx, who has the reputation as the 'never-give-up man' in the world of billiards. Before the final, decisive seventh set came to a 9-9 score and the maker of the last point was the Cup winner, the spectators saw a great, thrilling fight.
Eddy Merckx started well, winning the first 10-3 in 4, the Spaniard answered with two sets (10-3 in 5, 10-4 in 6) for a 2-1 lead. That was the signal for Merckx to fight his way to 2-2 in a sprint (10-9 in 6) and so... the final could start again. Ruben Legazpi took the initiative with an 8 from the break and 10-7 in 4, but in the heat of the battle, Merckx levelled again with 10-5 in 9.
The seventh set was played almost ecstatically by the two players: Legazpi started with 4 and 3 for 7-0, Merckx came back with 2 and 7 for a final score of 9-9. When Merckx missed his match ball, Legazpi was offered the ultimate chance. The Spaniard scored, lifted the cue in the air and was for a moment the luckiest billiard player in the world.
The averages in the final: Legazpi 1,541, Merckx 1,472.
Ruben Legazpi earned 12,000 euros with his victory, Eddy Merckx 8,000, the two losing semi-finalists both 5,000 euros.
Ruben Legazpi proudly showing the trophy of the Kozoom Cup
Eddy Merckx in a full focus during the final set
The reports of the semi-finals:
Jaspers adios, vamos Legazpi
The number one in the world, Dick Jaspers, ran into a knock-out against the number 50 in the world, Ruben Legazpi. The Dutchman was outplayed for the Kozoom Cup tournament just before the final, his Spanish opponent stepped gloriously into the final.
Adios Jaspers, vamos Legazpi. The tall Spanish billiard realised after the semi-final that he had beaten two absolute world top players in two days. The number one in the world Dick Jaspers and the number two Marco Zanetti. For the last mission in the Kozoom Cup, the Spaniard also happened to be up against Merckx, the third player on the world ranking list.
Ruben Legazpi had met Jaspers three times in his career so far, losing three times, the first time in 2005 in Sluiskil. The intense joy after the match in the Kozoom Cup was therefore understandable. The Spaniard sought out the Kozoom camera and cheered exuberantly. ''I feel very strong in this tournament'', he realised after the match. But to win against Jaspers and Zanetti in the same tournament? He had not dared to dream it, but it was reality now.
Legazpi started from the break and lost that first set 10-2 in 2. The next sets in the match were sensational, because the Spaniard won the next three sets: 10-5 in 7, 10-8 in 6 and 10-9 in 4. On the way to his first winning chance (5-0 and 7-1), Legazpi let his opponent escape once more, because Jaspers scored an 8 and won 10-6. But in the last one, with a 3-2 lead, Legazpi was again cool and ruthless and won 10-2 in 2 innings (7 and 3).
The set scores:
Legazpi-Jaspers: 2-10 (2), 10-5 (7), 10-8 (6), 10-9 (4), 7-10 (6), 10-2 (2)
The averages:
Legazpi 1,815, Jaspers 1,692.
Vamos España, vamos Ruben Legazpi after he won against Jaspers in the semi-finals
Eddy Merckx-Dion Nelin
He needed a great come-back, but in the end Eddy Merckx was the first finalist in the Kozoom Challenge Cup early Sunday afternoon. The Belgian defeated Dion Nelin 4-3 after trailing 3-1 in sets. The match in the semi-final was of a high level with a lot of tension in the closing stages. ''I was fortunate to recover from that 3-1 deficit and strike in the last set.''
Three victories brought the Belgian into the final of the Kozoom tournament: first against Peter De Backer 4-1, then against Gwendal Maréchal 4-2 and finally the exciting semi-final against the Danish flyer Nelin.
That match started brilliantly, with a first set win for Nelin (10-1 in 3) and then a perfect set for Merckx with 10-0 in 1. It was the prelude to a beautiful fight: Nelin showed some of the shine from the previous match against Roland Forthomme, came with 10-8 in 4 and 10-6 in 5 to a 3-1 lead. He realised later, that this lead was no guarantee for victory. ''We know how strong Merckx is when the tension gets to the climax.''
The Belgian fought back with 10-6 in 4, with 10-6 in 5 and kept his nerves under control in the seventh and deciding set. ''I was ahead 7-2, was lucky that Nelin missed a couple of times and could finish it off well'', Merckx analysed.
Dion Nelin realised afterwards: ''I had already beaten Dick Jaspers, but beating Eddy Merckx in the same tournament was a tough mission. Yet, I was close. I had a bit of an unlucky miss at a crucial moment and could not score enough in the last part. But in the end I am happy with my tournament.''
The set scores, Nelin-Merckx;
10-1 (3), 0-10 (1), 10-8 (4), 10-6 (5), 6-10 (4), 6-10 (5), 4-10 (5).
The averages: Merckx 2,037, Nelin 1,704.