3-Cushion
Peter De Backer was the best player in the first round of the Belgian team competition. His average was the better of the other players, most of whom are obviously still looking for form and rhythm. Eddy Willems scored the best with a run of 14. The highest Belgian division has three leaders after that first round: BC Den Eik, Biljart Express and Kortrijkse.
The still reigning champion Biljart Express played its match this Wednesday evening, visiting BC Biljart World. The match was illustrative for the overall level. Biljart Express won 6-2, but was very modest with the averages. Eddy Merckx and Frans van Kuyk won against Wuijts and Salvo in 29 innings (40 points), Guy van Litsenborg against Meylemans in 39 and Martin Spoormans had a slow start by losing against Persijn (40-38 in 48 innings). That was for the titleholder good for the 8th best team average of 12 teams. BC Den Eik leads with six match points and 1,167.
The first frontrunner already played a week ago and won 6-2 against De Ploeg, where Eddy Willems with his run of 14 against Davy van Havere was the only winner for the home team of Danielle le Bruyn. KBC Kortrijkse and Zanzibar played an exciting match. The game of Martin Ravestyn against Pierre Soumagne was decisive for the home team to win (5-3). Ravestyn and Soumagne drew in 33 innings. Roland Forthomme beat Ronny Brants 40-25 in 25 (1,600, run 11), Philippe Vandendriessche defeated Andy de Bondt (40-36 in 35), Frédéric Beghin beat Kenny Miatton (40-38 in 36).
Peter De Backer started very strong and with a comfortable win in his match against Steven van Acker: 40-21 in 18 innings (2,222). For Op de Meir (against Bruges), Roland Uijtdewillegen also won against Bart Leys (40-37 in 37), but Barry van Beers, who was without a chance against another standout of this matchday, Henk Blauwblomme (40-16 in 21). Koen Saver against Ivan Stitschinsky took an important match point for Bruges (40-32 in 38).
German Tom Löwe made his debut for De Witte Molen and was beaten by Kay de Zwart (40-28 in 28). TBA Biljartpalace shared the points with the 'Molenaars', as Ronny Daniels also won against Dirk Weeremans (40-33 in 32). Francis Forton was the best and obvious winner for De Witte Molen against Eric Hendrickx with 40-16 in 21 innings.
Mister 100 returned from the away match against DBC De Leug with a respectable draw. Peter Ceulemans led the team with a victory over Johan Loncelle: 40-35 in 29. Bart Ceulemans started with a win against Jens van Dam: 40-33 in 35. For De Leug, Wesley de Jaeger (40-38 in 30 against Kurt Ceulemans) and Frank de Groof (40-27 in 33 against Jerry Hermans) took the draw.