3-Cushion
HOOGLEDE - He was in the semi-finals on the Belgian championship semi-finals, tonight he did the same in the tournament for the Belgium Cup. Ronny Brants is in the Dutch and Belgian league not one of the top players, but in the big tournaments in his country he can be a stunt man and a big competitor for the favorits. He did on Saturday night against Roland Forthomme in a thriller that ended with a 15-14 in the fifth set. Ronny Brants will play against Eddy Merckx in the semi-finals.
Eddy Leppens had already seeded with a relatively easy victory against Christoph Wyn, who survived two rounds and was the revelation of the day.
Ronny Brants celebrated his success tonight with a far cry that was heard outside the hall, as he did also in the Belgian championship in Blankenberge after his win against Eddy Leppens. The release after a match full of tension in which Forthomme dominated the two first sets (15-9, 15-5), but Brant brought it into balance with 15-4 and 15-8. In the deciding set Forthomme took a quick lead (6-0 and 9-3), the better endshot was for Brants.
Eddy Leppens wasted only one set against Christophe Wyn, who was not expected to survive two rounds. Wyn won the second set against Leppens, the other three Leppens prevailed.
Earlier on the day Peter Ceulemans and Jef Philipoom had been eliminated surprisingly. Philipoom lost again the young Koen Saver, Ceulemans against Kenny Miatton.
Ceulemans complained about a lack in his form. ,,For weeks I'm playing far below my level and do not like playing billiard at the moment. I hope it will be better for the play-offs in Holland'', he said.
Jef Philipoom complained after his match about the referee, who had made, in his eyes, a mistake.
On Sunday at 11.00 am the semi-finals are: Frédéric Caudron-Eddy Leppens, Eddy Merckx-Ronny Brants.