Eddy Merckx leads Belgium to victory in Ankara

ANKARA - The Belgian team has captured the European title for countries in Ankara. Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens beated the Danish team in the final thanks to a supreme last match of Merckx against Brian Zola Hansen. The Belgium title candidate finished in style after a strong tournament, Danmark ended up second after beating the Netherlands in the semi final.

The Belgian teamcaptain Eddy Merckx played fast and furious on the final days, Eddy Leppens also showed his high class, especially in the semi finals, when he beated the Italian Salvatore Papa with an average of 1.718 and a run of nine. Eddy Merckx made a glittering ten in the final game.

The Netherlands came to the semi final by beating title defender Turkey on average. Raimond Burgman won his match agains Tayfun Tasdemir (3-2, 1.634/1.317), Jean Paul de Bruijn was defeated by Lütfi Cenet (3-2, 1.312/1.127).

The Belgium team beated Italy in the final.

The final ranking, with averages, was:

1. Belgium, ten matchpoints, average 1.529; 2. Danmark 1.469; 3. The Netherlands 1.223; 4. Italy 0.975; 5. Turkije B 1.388, Turkije A 1.371, Spain 1.222, Germany 1.088, Austria B 1.207, Austria A 1.045, Czech 0.865, Switzerland 0.596; 13. Turkey C 1.173, Sweden 0.841, France 1.034, Egypt 0.715, Montenegro 0.465, Portugal 0.885.