After a really short night ('bout 2 hours) I left for Bray-Dunes at 06:00H for the singles of the French Open 2014. It was being held in the Salle Dany Boon and it's only about 4 kilometers across the border.
My first game was against a Dutch girl; Marjolein Bunk. Played reasonably well and even managed a 180. won 3-1. The only downside is the lighting on the boards. It's a spotlight on the right-hand side which basically creates a lot of shadow.
My next game was against Beatrice Perrais; a French woman. Won that one 3-0. Played better than in my first game.
In the last 16 I played Francine Pieters. Woman from Brussels. Played the worst game ever. Couldn't quite find my spot and everything went in on the wrong side of the wire. :( I lost 3-1. But, instead of shaking my hand she went back up to the oche and continued playing. Which I found odd, but on only 2 hours of sleep... So we continued and I came back and won 4-3. Then of course someone starts going off about it being only best of 5 and not best of 7. Her husband got in my face and called me a cheat. Which pissed me off because I am not a cheat. I think a lot of people were surprised because nobody has ever seen me get angry or heard me raise my voice.
SHE made the mistake and I'm being called a cheat? He said I do it all the time and he knows who I am. Bitch from Antwerp. Excuse me!!?? First of all, I wouldn't know how to cheat at darts, second of all I am not from Antwerp and the guy has only ever seen me twice before. I went outside because I came really close to ripping his throat out.
After much discussion and shouting and what have you; they gave her the game. Fine. If they had just told me in a normal way during the game or after that it was only best of 5, none of that would've happened. I played a lousy game so she won fair and square. But don't get in my face and falsely accuse me and the marker of cheating.
If I had been French or if she'd won 4-3; nobody would've said anything. And I am still waiting for a formal apology from the organization, her and especially her husband. But, not gonna happen I'm guessing.
Should I have known better? Sure. But you try thinking when you're still half asleep.
In any case; probably not going to French Open next year or any other year unless I need the points badly.
French Open 2014 Ladies' champion is Deta Hedman. Runner-up is Irina Armstrong.
French Open 2014 Men's Champion is Remco van Eijden. Runner-up is Sam Head.