Three matches to go: tension on top is back

KORTRIJK - Thanks Henk Blauwblomme, Cédric Melnytschenko and Richard Bitalis, three players who normally don't play a main role in the league, the tension on top is back in the Belgian league. The three players won with Kon. Kortrijkse the home match against the frontrunner, Biljart Express, the team that was seen as the champion with three more matches to play.

The loss of Biljart Express (6-2, with only a win for Frans van Kuyk against Ronnie Brants) was surprisingly, but Gerwin Valentijn (lost against Blauwblomme, who played 1.428), Martin Spoormans (against Bitalis who finished with 1.448) and Guy of Litsenborg (against Melnytschenko, the best man with 1.615 average) were not able to compete with their opponents. De Ploeg, winner of the match against BC Deurne (7-1), is back on top, with a backlog of two points to the leader.

With three matches to play, the battle is totally open, especially because on the last day De Ploeg plays the home match against Biljart Express. ,,We thought that we had lost the championship, but we're in the running again'', reacted Jef Philipoom.

The highlight of the evening in the match between De Ploeg and BC Deurne was the duel between Martin Horn and Dick Jaspers. The top players, who're in the final of the Agipi Masters this week, were in blance throughout the match and finished at 50-50 in 27 innings.

Jef Philipoom surpassed the two leaders on average: he won his match against Jean Paul de Bruijn in 24 innings (50-35, highest run of ten).

Jean van Erp (against Steven van Acker) and Wesley de Jaeger (against Ludo Dielis) signed for the maximum profit of De Ploeg.

BC Deurne is three points behind now on the leader. KBC Zanzibar defeated 't Lammeken 5-3, but is out of the game for the title.

BC Quality Zele won the away game against Biljartvrienden 6-2, with a strong Eddy Merckx on centrecourt. He defeated Anno de Kleine 50-40 in 25 innings. Glenn Hoffman had a minor day and lost to Tom Ronge.

Mister 100 Lier needed all his power to beat De Kasteeldreef 5-3. Raymond Ceulemans and Koen Ceulemans won, Kurt took the important fifth point with a draw against Patrick Kesteloot.

BC Lugo did a last attempt to save itself by a 5-3 victory against BC Herentals: Frank Martens and Kay de Zwart won their matches Henk Habraken played a draw against Christian Rudolph.