3-Cushion
MALLE - The final countdown couldn't have been better, the climax marked the highlight in the club history. Frédéric Caudron, world champion and best player in the world, made the last and decisive carom for the championship. He raised his cue proudly, the Salpho cheered along for the new champions. Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens (Op de Meir next season), Peter Ceulemans (transfer to Mr. 100 Lier), Michel van Camp and Johan Claessen (moves to Biljartvrienden) took the title on the last day of the Belgian team competition in a glorious home game against BC Herentals, beaten by 8-0.
The start off for a huge party was given, with players, fans and the crowd in the Salpho. The players disappeared for a while into a back room after the last match and then returned, with the Belgian colors sprayed in their hairs.
De Goeie Queue is the new champion in Belgium and fully deserved the title. The other top team, BC Deurne, with Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Davy Havere and Ludo Dielis, was constantly in pursuit, the Salpho boys were put under pressure until the very last day.
The reality was that any misstep could be punished, because BC Deurne had an almost flawless finish of the competition. The leader couldn't afford any loss in their last matches. Frédéric Caudron expressed himself a brilliant leader in all those weeks. Eddy Leppens performed every week on his very high level, Peter Ceulemans was a rock-solid third man. Michel Camp and Johan Claessen, players for the fourth table, could certainly share in the joy of the championship.
The Belgian league for teams patents tension until the last day. Two years ago, De Ploeg and Biljart Express finished with the same match points. There was a decisive needed to point the champion.
De Goeie Queue and BC Deurne were in a neck-to- neck race this year after De Ploeg had lost its way on top. On the last day, De Goeie Queue bested BC Herentals in a full house 8-0. BC Deurne left nothing to chance and defeated Mister 100 Lier in the away game 8-0.
The best match on the final day: Frédéric Caudron scoring 50 points in 21 innings against Christian Rudolph (50-28) after a start with 9 and 11 in the third inning, making 20 in three innings.
Roland Forthomme played a strong 2.173 with Zanzibar against De Witte Molen in a duel with Glenn Hoffman (50-21 in 23) and Martin Horn closed the competition with 2.000 against Wim van Cromvoirt.
The high runs on the 22nd day were scored by Eddy Merckx and Barry van Beers, both with fourteen.
Some matches were closed with the theme of farewell.
Eddy Leppens, Peter Ceulemans and Johan Claessen are leaving De Goeie Queue.
Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx and Jean Paul de Bruijn leave BC Deurne.
Martin Horn, Jef Philipoom, Jean van Erp and Wesley de Jaeger leave De Ploeg.
Furthermore there are a lot of individual transfers coming up for the season's end.
De Goeie Queue ends up leading by 38 points ahead of BC Deurne 37, De Ploeg 30, Zanzibar and De Witte Molen 26.
KBC Kortrijk and On the Meir relegate directly out of the first division. Zeevis Andre from Brugge and Sint Truiden promote as champions of the second division.
Roeselare and Biljartvrienden show up in the playoffs as the numbers two on 19 and May 20. The winner will face Mr 100 Lier on 26 and 27 May in a match for promotion or relegation.
Dick Jaspers closed the season with the highest average and the most match points. The Dutchman took 37 match points for BC Deurne in 22 matches with 1053 caroms in 521 innings, averaging 2.021.
Raymond Ceulemans also gathered 37 match points out of 22, but the all time champion played to 42 caroms at the third billiard of Mr 100 Lier.
Martin Horn made the season's highest run with 19.
Frédéric Caudron recorded an excellent score for his team: 36 points out of 20 games, even better in average than Jaspers in 22 matches. The world champion finished with 979 caroms in 511 innings, averaging 1.915. Eddy Leppens took 36 points out of 21 games and played 1.722.
The averages of the main players in the league (with match points):
Dick Jaspers 2.021 (37)
Frédéric Caudron 1.915 (36)
Eddy Leppens 1.722 (36)
Martin Horn 1.696 (27)
Eddy Merckx 1.550 (31)
Frans van Kuyk 1.539 (27)
Roland Forthomme 1.533 (27)
Jean van Erp 1.520 (30)
Glenn Hofman 1.459 (23)
Raymond Ceulemans 1.450
Jean Paul de Bruijn 1.437
Jef Philipoom 1.396
Francis Forton 1.385
Gerwin Valentijn 1.383
Peter Ceulemans 1.323
Christian Rudolph 1.294
Kurt Ceulemans 1.283
Barry van Beers 1.278
Torsten Frings 1.241
Martin Horn 19
Jef Philipoom, Dick Jaspers: 18
Pierre Soumagne 17.