SINT TRUIDEN - The new Belgian three-cushion champion will not be Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme or Peter Ceulemans at the end of this Sunday afternoon, but is going to a more or less surprising winner. The Belgian frontrunners were defeated on Saturday in the run-up to the final rounds by the players who are in the spotlights at this championship: Jef Philipoom, Wesley de Jaeger, Ronny Brants and Peter De Backer! The championship is played with 16 finalists this weekend remaining from the preliminary rounds with 32 players.
Jef Philipoom and Wesley de Jaeger stood up as champion killers in the run-up to the finals. Jef Philipoom defeated Eddy Merckx in the quarter-finals in a real thriller, which ended in 40-40 after 24 innings, after which Philipoom won the penalty shootout 2-1. Wesley de Jaeger defeated Roland Forthomme in a match that was no way exciting. De Jaeger was superior, Forthomme had an off-day: 40-16 in 30 innings.
The other two semi-finalists are feared players in championships and cup finals. Peter De Backer and Ronny Brants can easily become Belgian champions this Sunday afternoon, but first have to get past Wesley de Jaeger and Jef Philipoom. Very surely Philipoom-De Backer announces itself as a real cracker with two seasoned warriors.
The preparatory stage in the Wimbledon in Sint Truiden, where this championship is played, immediately showed some exciting matches. Ronny Brants beat Steven van Acker, Wesley de Jaeger was the better of Peter Ceulemans and Jef Philipoom defeated Martin Spoormans. After that, Brants beat Francis Forton in his quarterfinal, De Jaeger played Forthomme out of the tournament, Philipoom eliminated top favorite Merckx and De Backer won his match against Kurt Ceulemans.
The championship continues today, Sunday, startin 13.00 and can be followed live on Kozoom.
The results of the best sixteen:
Ronny Brants-Steven van Acker 40-23 in 34
Francis Forton-Marco Janssen 40-34 in 45
Roland Forthomme-Dirk Weeremans 40-37 in 30
Wesley de Jaeger-Peter Ceulemans 40-21 in 34
Jef Philipoom-Martin Spoormans 40-17 in 31
Eddy Merckx-Davy van Havere 40-24 in 25
Kurt Ceulemans-Mathy Monnissen (Monnissen forfeit)
Peter De Backer-Andy de Bondt 40-19 in 25.
Quarter-finals:
Ronny Brants-Francis Forton 40-22 in 37
Wesley de Jaeger-Roland Forthomme 40-16 in 30
Jef Philipoom-Eddy Merckx 40-40 in 24 (shoot-out 2-1 Philipoom)
Peter De Backer-Kurt Ceulemans 40-33 in 30.
Sunday 13.00 semi-finals:
Ronny Brants-Wesley de Jaeger
Jef Philipoom-Peter De Backer
Final 17.00.
Ronny Brants is playing Wesley de Jaeger in the semi finals
Jef Philipoom outplayed Eddy Merckx by penalty shots
Peter De Backer in the semi finals facing Jef Philipoom