3-Cushion
MALLE - The top three in the Belgian three cushion league secured its unbeaten rank on the fourth day of the competition and ran out to a three and four points lead over the packed bunch. De Goeie Queue, with Frédéric Caudron in a starring role (2.500), after four convincing victories, has launched itself as the main favourite for the top position, waiting for the first major encounters with Deurne and Zanzibar, the two teams that remain well on track and are one point behind the leader.
Both Zanzibar and Deurne were superior on Monday with an 8-0 win over Mister 100 and BC De Ploeg. De Goeie Queue recorded the same maximum score one day later against Biljartvrienden (8-0).
Frédéric Caudron kickstarted his match against his former teammate Raimond Burgman in the Salpho (18-5 in five) and flew to the match win 50-20 in 20, including a 12 in the sixteenth inning. Eddy Merckx needed a tough fight with John Tijssens, who still led 34-32 in 24, but Merckx finished with sixteen in the last seven innings (50-41 in 33). Jean Paul de Bruijn had a strong showing and beat Johan Claessen (42-20 in 21) and Jerry Hermans had the expected a walkover against Hans van der Wurf: 42-12 in 38.
The Op de Meir team is still waiting for a first win in this competition. The home match against Biljart Express ended in a draw. Frans van Kuyk knocked down Eddy Leppens by a big margin: 50-30 in 25 innings. Barry van Beers (50-44 in 25 in a close match against Gerwin Valentijn) and Ivan Stitschinsky (42-24 against Guy van Litsenborg) were the two winners in the home team, Martin Spoormans defeated Roland Uytdewillegen.
De Goeie Queue had a 1.642 team average, Zanzibar recorded an excellent 1.533 in the home game against Mr. 100, that finished with a poor 1.075 overall. Jimmy Mues, against Bart Ceulemans (40-21), was the best man of the evening with 2.100, Roland Forthomme defeated Peter Ceulemans 50-38 in 32. ,,We all played far below our level'', Ceulemans said frankly after the Mr 100 performance.
BC Deurne showed up without Torbjörn Blomdahl in the encounter with BC De Ploeg and had its strong leader in Jef Philipoom (1.562). Jean van Erp, Davy van Havere and Ludo Dielis were not in trouble against Jaak Wijnen, Mathy Monnissen, Therese Klompenhouwer and Wim van Dijck, of whom no one played one average. Wim van Dijck, however was pretty close at the end against Ludo Dielis. ,,I was 37-22 down and came back to 38-37'', he commented. Dielis eventually took the match win: 42-37.
Martin Horn and Glenn Hoffman crossed paths in a quality match in which Horn fired up the clash at the end: 50-34 in 21 despite a twelve of Hofman. BC Herentals shared the points in that match with De Witte Molen. Christian Rudolph won his match for Herentals, Ad Broeders and Dirk Weeremans notched the draw for their team.
Martin Horn showed his form against Glenn Hofman
Eddy Merckx and John Tijssens remained very close until the end of the match