Belgians are with four players in semi finals

BRANDENBURG – The Belgians had an easy job with their B-team to reach the semi final in the tournament for nation teams. Belgium A, with the two world champions Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx, survived in the blood-sweat-and-tears match against Turkey thanks to Merckx’ last caroms.

Netherlands A will show up in the semi-final against Belgium A, the other semi-final is between Belgium B and Greece.

Frédéric Caudron (Belgium B) had already closed his match against Murat Naci Coklu (40-34 in 24), when Merckx was still fighting for the winning points against Tayfun Tasdemir. The Turk was trailing, but made a wonderful 11-run near the end of the match, which brought him on a 38-32 lead. But eventually he did not managed to make the decisive points.

Eddy Merckx scored his three points when Tasdemir had missed. The world champion could lift his cue at 38-35, enough for Belgium to come up to the semis.

The Belgian A-team defeated Netherlands B thanks to a victory Eddy Leppens against Barry van Beers (40-27 in 22) and a favorable score of Forthomme against Jean Paul de Bruijn (37-28) when Leppens finished his match.

Dick Jaspers secured victory for the Dutch A-team beating Martin Horn with a comfortable score (40-17 in 18). Raimond Burgman and Christian Rudolph balanced on that moment to 28-25.

Nikos Polychronopoulos was the star player for Greece in the match against Spain. He made a big gap with a run of ten in the starting innings (19-3) against Ruben Legazpi, ran out to 39-14 and then got his first match point for Greece.

Dani Sánchez led against Filippos Kasidokostas, but the former European champion Kasidokostas did not need a win because of his teammate.

When Polychronopoulos closed his match at 40-22, Kasidokostas was 34-27 behind. It was good enough for the Greek team to qualify for the semis.

Tomorrow morning (9:30) Belgium B with Caudron and Merckx plays in the semifinal against Greece with Kasidokostas and Polychronopoulos.

The Belgian A team with Forthomme and Leppens meets the Netherlands with Jaspers and Burgman.