3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - The Belgian champion Eddy Merckx has launched the play-offs for the Dutch league last night with an excellent run of 17 from the break. His team, De Heeren-Millers, won the first meeting in an away match against Machielsen.fa Press Plate (Zundert) 6-2 and starts the return in Heerhugowaard tonight, Wednesday, as favorite for the overall win.
The other encounter for the semi-finals, between Dallinga-Frans Bevers and De Distel is on the schedule for Thursday and Saturday.
Eddy Merckx was the undisputed star player for his team in Biljartcentrum Den Hoek last night. His run of 17 from the break was the highlight of the match. The Belgian played in this match against Peter Ceulemans, his country man, who put up a good fight after the punch in the first inning and went down honourably after 23-8 in three, 23-14 in four and 33-18 in 9: the score at the end was 50-42 in 23 innings.
The former Partycentre Osdorp team, which now plays under the name De Heeren, secured victory after the break. The score in between was 2-2.
Frans van Kuijk dominated the match in which he faced Barry van Beers and came to the finish 45-29 in 23 innings. The home crowd was given some hope again by Raymon Groot's success: the youngster in the team defeated the veteran Dick Uum 45-33 in 47.
Jaspers and Merckx, the two figureheads, remained stoic under pressure: Merckx showed the form in which his playing already for some weeks, including in the European Cup in Vienna (final run of 17) and the BTS tournament in Belgium with two matches 40 in 11 innings.
Dick Jaspers found some more troubles on his way to beat Roland Forthomme. He led 23-20 in 13 innings around the break and then slowly ran away to finish off in 26 innings: 50-41.
Tonight (Wednesday, May 7th) is the return at De Heeren: 19.00 with the same matches.
The other semifinal between Dallinga and De Distel is a three against three match, because with the interference of the team leaders, the federation couldn't grant dispensation to Hans van der Wurf (not enough matches by physical defect) and Jerry Hermans, who was planned to replace Caudron on Saturday when the world champion plays in France.
The matches:
Thursday, May 8, 19.00 pm: Dallinga-Frans Bevers-De Distel Biljarts
Frédéric Caudron - Jef Philipoom
Eddy Leppens - Gerwin Valentijn
Jean Paul de Bruijn - John Tijssen
Saturday, May 10, 19.00 pm: De Distel Biljarts -Dallinga-Frans Beavers:
Jef Philipoom - Eddy Leppens
Gerwin Valentijn - Jean Paul de Bruijn
John Tijssen - Glenn Hoffman.
Finals:
Saturday, May 24, 13.00 pm: 1st match
Sunday, May 25, 13.00 pm: 2nd game.