3-Cushion
TURNHOUT
The two Belgian world class players were facing each other once again this week in an exciting fight. Frédéric Caudron was slightly stronger this time than Eddy Merckx in a high level match 50-48 in 17 innings, averaging 2.941 and 2.824. The game took place in the fourth round of the Belgian team competition. Biljart Express, with Eddy Merckx in the captain's role, won 6-2. BC Deurne and Biljart Express lead the ranking with 7 points out of four matches.
Frédéric Caudron shone with three runs of 7 in the top match, Eddy Merckx with 8 and 7. On the scoreboard, Merckx was leading 27-24 after ten innings. Caudron then attacked with 4, 7 and 7 (42-38). When Caudron led 46-43, Merckx scored a five to 46-48, missed his sixth point and allowed Caudron to close with four.
Biljart Express was not in danger for the victory, because Frans van Kuyk, Gerwin Valentijn and Martin Spoormans kept the maximum profit in their own home. Frans van Kuyk defeated Jean Paul de Bruijn (50-46 in 26), Gerwin Valentijn bested Maarten Janssen (42-31 in 31) and Martin Spoormans was the strong fourth player against Jerry Hermans (42-18 in 24). Biljart Express scored 1.857 in team average, De Goeie Queue 1.479.
BC Deurne and Biljart Express already have an advantage over the other teams. De Ploeg, De Goeie Queue and Biljartpalace close the ranking with only 1 match point. Deurne's champions team played the away match against Kortrijk where Glenn Hofman was beaten by Dave Christiani: 50-45 in 23 and Jean van Erp by the remarkable Martin Ravestyn (42-20 in 22). The Belgian shone among others with a 13 run, the best of this fourth round. Christiani has made both in Netherlands and Belgium a promising start. "After a less year, I take more time for myself now to practice, and I already feel the result'' the Limburg player said after the game.
Mister 100 Lier played in an away match against Zanzibar. Peter Ceulemans beat Roland Forthomme 50-43 in 36. Kenny Miatton and Andy de Bondt took the matchpoints for Zanzibar against Kurt and Raymond Ceulemans. Martin Horn, leading player in Herentals' team, recovered from a few lesser matches and beat Pierre Soumagne 50-37 in 21. Christian Rudolph and Ad Broeders were the other key players in this match. De Ploeg and De Leug shared the win in a mediocre match with team averages under one. Therese Klompenhouwer, the brand new women world champion, beat Bryan van Genechten 42-33 in 45.