An the name of an old, skillfully maintained rivalry, every French sportsman dreams of beating the English on their land, this is particularly true for footballers and especially for rugby players. And this is what Christophe Egreteaud has just achieved, during the English billiards world championships held in Bridlington, on the north-east coast of England.
“English billiards is the little cousin of American billiards. Each player has colored balls (red or yellow), there is also a white ball and a black ball. The winner is the one who enters his colors and then black last. Billiards is an institution in England,” summarizes Christophe Egreteaud.
“There were all categories, men and women. They were teams of six, five on the scoresheet and one substitute. » The world championship in which he participated with the French team, in the master category (over 50), took place in two stages. First, a first phase with a championship of 12 teams. And at the end, “the first two were directly qualified for the semi-finals and four others had to face each other in the quarter. “. Knowing that a match takes place over the best of 25 games (five per player), “emotionally and physically, it’s tough,” comments Christophe Egreteaud.
The Libournais in full action during a championship match.
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Fratricidal duel
The Libourne team having finished in third place, it was opposed to the English in the quarter-final who had finished in sixth position. The French having overcome the British, they found themselves against another French team, considered to be the No. 1 team among the Blues, in the semi-final. Here again, another victory. This had a particular taste, partly because it was a fratricidal duel. On the other hand, because of the history of the two teams. “At the start, in the France group, there were 12 of us. The coach chose six players to make up the team to participate in the championship. We were the B team which had to be entered in the reserves championship. But, as there were not enough teams to set up the reserve championship, the decision was therefore made to enter two French teams in this world championship,” explains Christophe Egreteaud.
“If the supreme title is put back into play every two years, humanly we keep it for life. »
Like a taste of revenge? Probably a little even if the player tempers: “Team 1 was a great team. After our victory, we moved apart, we stayed among ourselves so as not to show our satisfaction too much.” Christophe Egreteaud and his teammates then followed their dream to the end by beating South Africa in the final. “It was a great meeting. The South Africans were very fair and warm even after their defeat. » A memory that will remain forever engraved in his memory. “At first, I didn’t believe it. The morning after the final, I told myself that it wasn’t possible but the medal was still there. Representing your country in a competition is no small thing. And if the supreme title is put back into play every two years, humanly we keep it for life. »
Europe after the world
For Christophe Egreteaud, who has many years of practice behind him, it is the crowning achievement of a career. “At the start, it was friends who weren’t numerous enough to form a team who pushed me to join them. At that time, there was a big club in Libourne. I progressed, gradually my friends stopped and I continued. » Until becoming a player at the highest national level, winning many titles and trophies (championship, French Cup, etc.). Today, “there is nothing left in Libourne, so I will train and play in Saint-Loubès”. He has also been licensed for six years at the Les Herbiers Billiard Academy, in Vendée, where he is the team captain and plays among the French elite.
“Quite cerebral”
It remains to be seen what makes a great pool player. “Technique, at a certain level, we all have it. Afterwards, the difference is in the head, it’s quite cerebral. You can’t go bad and go to a competition. And then, you always have to continue training because it grows behind you. »
Christophe Egreteau’s next challenge is to participate in the European Championship which will take place next year in Ireland. “I hope to stay in the France group but for that I must continue to be regular in competition. » The man also has an ambition: “To be able to organize a big competition in Libourne but you have to mobilize a gymnasium for a week, that seems difficult,” he regrets. A solution would be welcome.
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