3-Cushion
TURNHOUT - The cozy ambiance, the tension on the tables, tv recordings of the Kempen derby: all the ingredients were there for an evening of delicious billiards. The leader, De Goeie Queue, visited Biljart Express on Monday, the match ended in a surprising draw 4-4. But how close was Gerwin Valentijn at the end of the match to draw with Eddy Merckx and grab the full win for his home team. The Dutchman played the equalizing inning and missed his last of three caroms, therefore lost 50-49.
Frédéric Caudron wrote in his weekly report: ,,Eddy and Gerwin had a slow start (6-6 in six innings). Then Eddy made 11, Gerwin 8, Eddy 8 and Gerwin 11, bringing the score to 36-32 in 15 innings. The tension was growing. Gerwin missed out on a good when he was on 47 and allowed Eddy to finish with two times two. The equalizer was to Gerwin: he needed three caroms for the draw and Biljart Express’ 5-3 win. He scored his first from the break, made his second with a little bit of show and saw that the third point was a very easy position. Gerwin went for the shot, stopped, stood up again, looked at Frans (van Kuyk) and Guy (van Litsenborg) and sighed deeply. Then he went for the carom and missed out by far on the shot to victory…’’
De Goeie Queue got away with a draw after the victory of Caudron, who had a great finish against Van Kuyk with runs of 12 and 8 (50-42 in 25) and the losses of Jean Paul de Bruijn against Martin Spoormans (42-36 in 29 after 28-11 behind) and Jerry Hermans against Guy van Litsenborg (42-26 in 35).
The top of the ranking bunched together by the tie of the leader, because BC Deurne and Zanzibar won their matches on the fifth day. Zanzibar escaped in the away match against DOS Roeselare: Roland Forthomme defeated Steven van Acker 50-49 in 40, Dave Christiani lost to Cédric Melnytschenko 50-49 in 38. Steven van Acker needed 7 to equalize, but missed out his last point. Dave Christiani came back from 47-35 down and missed his last by a hair.
Kenny Miatton bested Philippe Vandendrissche 42-23 in 31.
BC Deurne took the full win in the Mr. 100 (6-2), where Torbjörn Blomdahl beat Peter Ceulemans with three caroms (50-47 in 24) and Raymond Ceulemans starred in his match against the Dutch champion Jean van Erp with a 42-32 win in 30.
BC Op Meir celebrated its first win on the fifth day and climbs to the middle of the ranking. The away game against De Witte Molen ended in a 6-2. Eddy Leppens topped his opponent Glenn Hofmann by a wide margin: 50-30 in 24, Barry van Beers got the better of Francis Forton and Roland Uytdewillegen defeated Ad Broeders.
Biljartvrienden against De Ploeg 2 ended in a draw, John Tijssens was the best winner in that match: 50-23 in 34 against Eddy Willems. BC Herentals took the full win in the away match against De Ploeg 1 (6-2). Martin Horn and Christian Rudolph signed for the win against Jaak Wijnen and Mathy Monnissen, Geert Meylemans beat Wim van Dijck by two points and only Therese Klompenhouwer took the win for De Ploeg against Leon Smolders: 42-40 in 37.
Frans van Kuyk and Frédéric Caudron, focused for their match