Belgian kick-off for the cup in Herstal

HERSTAL - The Belgian cup final has moved to Herstal after twenty years in Hooglede and is played according to the same system: with 32 players on the match table and 32 players on the small table. The kick-off is today, Friday 11 May at 13.00 in Salle La Fabric, an event hall in Herstal. The organization is in the hands of the Liège-Luxembourg region. Kozoom broadcasts all matches live for Premium pass holders. It is the thirtieth edition of the Belgian Cup. Roland Forthomme, who plays for his own crowd, is the titleholder. The sports leader is Henri Pilgrims.

The tournament is played in three days: today and tomorrow, four groups of four play both on the match table and the small table. Four finalists will move up to the final rounds on Sunday. In the preliminaries, knockout is played to three won sets of 15 caroms, in the final rounds the games are to 5 won sets. Roland Forthomme won last year's final 3-1 against from Peter Ceulemans, who is linked to Eddy Merckx in his first match tomorrow.

The preliminaries for the Belgian Cup, for which every billiard player could register, started in October last year.

The schedule for the final days:

Today, Friday:

13.00:

Frédéric Caudron-Philip Coenen
Martin Spoormans-Maarten Janssen
Frank Loosveldt-Angelo Gustinelli
Bart Leys-Koen Saver

15.00 uur:

Danny Wuyts-Luc Salvo
Patrick Randaxhe-Ronny Brants
Christiaan De Mil-Roger van Hoylandt
Henk Blauwblomme-Roland Forthomme

The eight finals are at 17.00, the quarters at 19.30, two winners move up to the semi finals on Sunday.

On Saturday followed by another sixteen players according to the same system.

13.00:

Andy Prieus-Martin Ravestyn
Davy van Havere-Paul Wilms
Francis Forton-Geert Meylemans
Frédéric Mottet-Jef Philipoom

15.00 uur:

Peter Ceulemans-Eddy Merckx
Marc Roofthooft-Koen van Camp
David Heyman-Steven van Acker
Frank de Groof-Eddy Leppens.

Small table:
Friday:
Jean-Claude Cornil-David Heyman
Freddy Clapdorp-Eric van Goethem
Mehmet Kilic-Eric Demaerschalck
Raymond Willems-Marc de Groodt

Jul van Aperen-Johan Nicolaes
Johan Burgelman-Erik Vervliet
Didier van de Gucht-Lucien Strypens
Julle Mettepenningen-Georges Ernst

Saturday:
Jean-Louis Horsch-Claude Crefcoeur
Daniel Tratsaert-Wesley van Apers
Glen Neyens-Tony Lippens
Johan van Acker-Bernhard Bekaert

Erman Duman-Jean-Pierre Desprez
Michel Ribacourt-Johan de Backer
Ives de Hertog-Paul-André Vandemaele
Ronald Overheyden-Johan Denoulet.