3-Cushion
For Eddy Merckx winner of the previous edition, began the tournament as it ended last year. With a spectacular victory, much applause from the tribunes and a match of world class. The Belgian top player excelled with an average of 3.333 in his match with Martin Spoormans, which he won 50-26 in fifteen innings.
The results after eight matches show how high the level was on the first day. Six players finished with an average over two. Eddy Merckx was by far the best, Peter Ceulemans with 2.631 a close second.
Eddy Merckx based his victory over Martin Spoormans on a run of sixteen, as much as Jef Philipoom earlier in the day had made in his match with Francis Forton. Peter Ceulemans surprised by a great match against Raimond Burgman, which he won in the style of a champion.
Jean van Erp was the best of the Dutch players with a victory over Barry Beers: 50-25 and an average of 2.380.
Besides many high averages the first round also excelled by high runs. Jef Philipoom conjured early in the afternoon a sixteen out of his cue. Roland Forthomme shined with a run of fourteen, Eddy Merckx made a sixteen in the last match of the first session, Peter Ceulemans shined with thirteen.
Eddy Leppens defeated Peter de Backer and Semih Sayginer began with a victory over the young home favorite Jeffrey Nijnatten.
The highlightes on the first day predict a great event. Jef Philipoom said just before the start of the tournament: ,,I want to stunt one more time at the end of the year.'' Who saw his first match, must have seen that he must be able to battle for a high place. ,,Jefke'', as his friends call him, began with a win against Francis Forton (50-34).
Frédéric Caudron made the role of favorit true beating Harry van der Ven (50-25), Roland Forthomme increased by his run of fourteen Glenn Hofman, beating the young player from Den Hague 50-34. Eddy Leppens showed against Peter de Backer, his teammate at Delta in Sluiskil, that he has big plans in this tournament.
But the two best players on the first day were Eddy Merckx and Peter Ceulemans. However, for Merckx a match with an average of three or more is no exception this year. Peter Ceulemans has made a spectacular development this year and undoubtedly he is one of the outsiders in Zundert.