3-Cushion
LEUVEN/ZELE - The Belgian three-cushion competition is slumbering to the end with a proud leader, chasers who lose too many points to be a threat and a long bunch in the middle in which the Royal Kortrijk Billiards Club plays a striking role. The stately stronghold, founded in 1925 and after some moves settled in De Mambo, definitely is out of danger after this week's victory over Roland Forthomme's Zanzibar team. That is a great result for Dave Christiani, Ronny Brants, Martin Ravestyn and Frédéric Beghin.
In the ranking, led with flair by BC Deurne, KBC Kortrijk's position is modest with 18 points out of 19 matches. That means the team is short behind well-known opponents like Biljart Express (Frans van Kuyk), Op de Meir (Eddy Leppens), De Witte Molen (Dirk Weeremans) and Quality Zele (Eddy Merckx). The Dutchman Dave Christiani is the leader of the Kortrijk team this year, Ronny Brants the feared second man. The victory this week was mainly achieved by the two leading players. Dave Christiani beat Roland Forthomme 50-44 in 32, Ronny Brants was the better in the match with Kenny Miatton 50-46 in 47.
With a dive in history, we discover famous names who played for the club, which was in the main leaugue from 2000 with a few short interruptions. Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx, Dick Jaspers, Jérémy Bury, Ludo Dielis and Richard Bitalis are the best known. And talking about history: the club was founded on December 5, 1925 by Nestor Melsens as the Biljart Club Courtraisien, the clubhouse was the stately mansion De Patria on De Grote Markt in Kortrijk. It was, according to the early stories, 'a bourgeois-tinted club of friends' in those early years. In 1950 the club changed its name to Royal Kortrijk Billiards Club. Luc Vangansbeke is the sports director now, Eric Huysentruyt is honorary president. Four times in the club history, a Belgian championship honour class was organized, twice a VES tournament.
That 'Royal club' is one of the strongholds in the main league with its typical, friendly atmosphere in De Mambo. And that the Kortrijk team is also a feared opponent in away matches, KBC Zanzibar has experienced this week. The 6-2 victory was well deserved, but also hard-won. Because not only the captains needed a strong final shot, Frédéric Beghin had a one point lead at the end against Jimmy Mues. Only Martin Ravestyn was not on his best. He was trumped by Andy de Bondt 42-25 in 27 innings.
BC Deurne did an excellent job again on the 19th matchday. The Antwerp team won the away match against Quality Zele 6-2 with Glenn Hoffman as the match winner. The team captain beat Eddy Merckx 50-46 in 31, resulting in the maximum victory in the final part. Jean van Erp defeated his Dutch teammate Jeffrey Jorissen 42-38 in 33. De Goeie Queue, number two in the ranking, had an unexpected tough match againt Eeklose. By victories of Freddy Staelens and Willem Janssen, the number last led 4-0 at the break. Frédéric Caudron and Jean Paul de Bruijn, with victories in 22 and 43 innings, forced the draw after the stop.
De Witte Molen achieved a nice victory over Op de Meir (6-2), Mr. 100 Lier had an off-day in the away match against BC Herentals (6-2), where Kurt Ceulemans was the best man for his team and and Martin Horn was the better of Peter Ceulemans in a moderate match 50-35 in 41 Frans van Kuyk led his team of Biljart Express to an 8-0 victory over Mr. 100 Lier 2 beating Marco Janssen (50-21 in 25). The Lier team is out for another year in the main league now. Ad Koorevaar lost against Gerwin Valentijn despite a run of 13.
The good news comes from the board front. The Belgian billiard federation has decided in a meeting this week that a new, modernized website will be introduced as of 1 September and that the results service will be given a professional appearance.