3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - The second session at the Christmas tournament in Zundert was not the day of the young players. Two big names who regularly shine on the world stage, took the spotlights. Martin Horn recorded a match in 15 innings against Raymon Groot (40-18, 2.666 average), Eddy Merckx did even better in the evening session. The Belgian launched his match against Pierre Soumagne with nine, and followed it by 13 (22-3 in 2 innings), finishing after a short drought at 40-19 in 14 (2.856). For both, Merckx and Horn, the door to the quarters is already open. The other players so far in the last eight are Roland Forthomme, Glenn Hoffman, Raimond Burgman and Peter Ceulemans.
Glenn Hofmann took the decisive match in his group against Martin Spoormans 40-38 in 27 and finished second behind Forthomme. Peter Ceulemans was the better of Gerwin Valentijn in the group in which Merckx was the winner. The player with the best average after one day (Ceulemans) did his last job without being in trouble: 40-24 in 22.
The final decisions must come from the Thursday afternoon sessions in Group C and Group D at 14.00 and 16.00. Peter De Backer and Raymon Groot, both winners against Barry van Beers and losers against Martin Horn, battle it out for the second place. In Group D, Raimond Burgman is leading with two wins over Kenny Miatton (40-14 in 20) and Jean van Erp (40-40-28 in 29). Eddy Leppens bested Kenny Miatton and played a draw against Jean van Erp. Burgman and Leppens meet each other, Leppens can't afford a loss.
For most of the young players, the tournament comes to an end after the preliminaries. Dustin Jäschke, Kenny Miatton and Pierre Soumagne are eliminated. Only Raymond Groot of the younger generation has a chance to reach the knockout rounds.
The ranking in the two groups that have finished their matches:
Group A:
1 Roland Forthomme 6-1.500-9
2 Glenn Hoffman 4-1.216-7
3 Martin Spoormans 2-1.166-7
4 Dustin Jäschke 0-0.813-6.
Group B:
1 Eddy Merckx 6-1.846-13
2 Peter Ceulemans 4-1.918-11
3 Gerwin Valentijn 2-1.192-7
4 Pierre Soumagne 0-1.101-6.
Eddy Merckx launched himself with 9 and 13 in two innings
Roland Forthomme, unbeaten to the knock-out stage
Peter Ceulemans, a last win over Valentijn and in the last eight
Glenn Hofman defeated Martin Spoormans: always a tough guy to beat
Eddy Merckx topped his group after the qualifications