3-Cushion
MALLE - The top match in the Belgian competition between De Goeie Queue and BC Deurne ended in a draw (4-4). Frédéric Caudron outshone his opponent Torbjörn Blomdahl in a spectacular match 50-41 in 17 innings and almost at the same time, Eddy Merckx jumped to victory vs Jef Philipoom 50-46 in 31 and brought the match score to 4-4.
The two leaders still have the same match points (16). That means De Goeie Queue can run out in points tonight (Wednesday) in its match against Herentals which is played in advance. Frédéric Caudron and Torbjörn Blomdahl took the spotlights and enjoyed the audience in the crowded Salpho in a sensational final part, in which Caudron scored 11, 0 and 12 in the last three innings and Blomdahl 7, 6 and 8.
Caudron, getting his sprint train on track, even made forty points in his best four innings (8, 9, 11 and 12).
Jef Philipoom still led 37-30 against Eddy Merckx, but was caught up on the way to the finish line when Merckx was the better in the decisive innings.
The most remarkable match was the Dutch bump between Jean Paul de Bruijn and Jean van Erp: the two players, of whom Van Erp is the national champion, head to Bordeaux next week for the World championship and played more or less a warm-up for the global fight. Jean van Erp reached his normal high level, Jean Paul de Bruijn was troubled by his opponent all the way and played a dramatically bad match. After twelve innings, Van Erp was already far ahead, 30-5.
,,I managed to score and pay attention to my defense from the start'', Van Erp concluded after the match. ,,At the end I was only focussed to win the match, but unfortunately it took too long to score my last points.'' The final score: 42-12 in 26, averages 1.615/0461. Davy van Havere took the fourth match against Jerry Hermans, which stayed close until the end: 42-39 in 31 innings.
Caudron noted: ,,In the four matches, BC Deurne made twenty caroms more than we did. Perhaps they deserved more than a draw, but we are very happy.''
The number three in the ranking, KBC Zanzibar, had a walkover and was never put in danger against De Ploeg 2. Dave Christiani (who made a run of 21 one day later in a Grand Prix in the Netherlands) was the best man with 1.666 average. Roland Forthomme remained unbeaten in the league by beating Dustin Jäschke: 50-32 in 36. Kenny Miatton won in 30 innings, Jimmy Mues in 43.
Mister 100 Lier climbed up to the fourth place, which position they share with De Witte Molen. The Ceulemans team won the home match against Op de Meir 6-2. Peter Ceulemans was the only one who lost: Eddy Leppens was a way too strong: 50-26 in 28.
Kurt Ceulemans (1.666, run of 13 and 50-33 against Barry van Beers), Raymond (42-20 in 37 against Ivan Stitschinsky) and Bart (1.555 and run of twelve against Paul Bruneel) snatched the win for Lier.
De Witte Molen returned home with a draw from the away match against Biljartvrienden. The Dutch match at billiard one was won by Raimond Burgman, who gave Glenn Hoffman no chance 50-29 in 30 innings. Francis Forton defeated John Tijssens 50-44 in 36. Dirk Weeremans continued his winning streak in a simple knock-down match against Hans van der Wurf: 42-19 in 34.
Biljart Express against BC Herentals ended in a draw, partly thanks to a strong Frans van Kuyk, who bested Martin Horn, just returned from Lausanne, where he played the final against Dick Jaspers, 50-34 in 21 innings. Martin Spoormans played one of his best matches so far against Leon Smolders: 42-26 in 21 innings.
DOS Roeselare defeated BC De Ploeg 1 6-2. Philippe Vandendriesche was the best man of his team when beating Therese Klompenhouwer 42-33 in 31.
Torbjörn Blomdahl and Eddy Merckx fully concentrated during the top match in Begium
The youngest of the Ceulemans team, Bart, was one of the best players on the ninth matchday and climbs up with Mister 100 to the fourth position.