3-Cushion
MERKSEM - He is one of the 27 players in the world now who recorded a three cushion match with four average and more: Jean Paul de Bruijn from Hulst in Holland. Three weeks after a mysterious match in the Medellin World Cup, the Dutch champion showed his brilliance in the Belgian league last night. He was playing for the reigning champion BC Deurne, that defeated BC Op de Meir 7-1. De Bruijn was in high spirits: he finished his match in 9 innings against Ivan Stitschinsky: 42-15.
He couldn't find an explanation for the highs and the lows in recent weeks, like all top players, who often tumble from an absolute top form in a minor period. JeePee, as he is called by his friends: ,,I am 48 years now, I play billiards all my life and I know that this can happen. Today is not tomorrow, we say in billiards. I will not lie awake anymore when I play a match like in Medellin (thirteen mistakes towards the end), but believe me, I had a bad evening.''
Looking back tot hat match: ,,What shall I say about the match. There was a lot of stress and pressure, of course, when we came to the end. I could reach the top twenty if I won. That's in your mind. And the audience was not in my favor in the final stage. They were with 800 people in the stands, and they all cheered when I missed. I know for myself that I can play billiards very well. You might not lose your head, actually, in this ambiance, but it happened.''
The feeling of euphoria now dominates again, a kind of magical flow in which he played last night. The match started as so many matches: 4, 6, 1, 0, 4, not too good, not too bad: fifteen points in five innings.
And then came the final shot: 7, 10, 5 and 5: 27 points in four innings. ,,All the points seemed so easy, as if I could not miss. I really scored all the makeable balls, with position playing. And occasionally I had a little luck, just a thin touch of the ball and a reward.''
Jean Paul de Bruijn was by far the best in the eight league round with 4.666 average. His team, BC Deurne, remains the main pursuer of De Goeie Queue, still the leader after the 6-2 win at Mr. 100 in Lier. Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Leppens won in 21 and 28 innings. Peter Ceulemans lost, not for the first time against Raymond, his grandpa, 42-29 in 28 innings.
Dick Jaspers and Davy van Havere signed, with Jean Paul de Bruijn on top, for Deurne's victory. Eddy Merckx lost one point against Roland Uytdewilligen: 50-50 in 29 innings. Davy Havere took his win in 34 innings, allowing Deurne a team average of 1.769.
BC De Ploeg powered to a maximum win against one of the competitors for the top three places, BC De Witte Molen. Martin Horn was 23-22 down, halfway against Glenn Hoffman, when he started his attack with five and twelve (50-40 in 26). Jef Philipoom (29 innings) and Jean van Erp (24) led the team average up to 1.520.
BC Biljart Express and KBC Zanzibar played a draw in a match in which Frans van Kuyk beat Roland Forthomme 50-46 in 27. Pierre Soumagne defeated Martin Spoormans 42-39 in 25.
KBC Kortrijk battled its way to first victory: the team defeated De Ploeg 2 6-2. Thorste Frings was the only winner for De Ploeg, beating Stany Buyle 50-40. Martin Ravestyn, Frédéric Beghin (in 25 innings, 1.680) and Frédéric Roelants (30 innings, 1.400, run of 13, the highest on this matchday) did an excellent job.