SINT NIKLAAS - The tension on the final day was palpable, but in the end Biljart Express secured the championship. Guy van Litsenborg's team could celebrate the title for the fifth time and for the second consecutive year after a battle with Op de Meir. This Tuesday evening, all matches in the final round were played at the same time. Biljart Express won 1-7 against De Witte Molen away, the only rival, Op de Meir, won the away match against Brugse 2-6. For Biljart Express' championship match, some 20 fans travelled with them to Sint Niklaas. Biljart Express had to win the match, as Op de Meir still had title chances with a win or a draw in Bruges. In the temporary venue of De Witte Molen, Het Hof van Belsele, the score was 4-0 before the break thanks to Martin Spoormans and Dave Christiani, but Frans van Kuyk struggled against Francis Forton (40-40 in 35) and Eddy Merckx only made it in the final sprint against Johan Loncelle 40-34 in 26. At the other venue in Bruges, where the rival was playing, Bruges substitute Jean Paul de Kraker surprisingly won against Lesie van Neyen (40-27 in 31), but Jef Philipoom, Barry van Beers and Roland Uijtdewillegen were able to pull out the win.
Martin Spoormans, celebrating his tenth Belgium championship, said later: ’’We followed the course of the match in Bruges, because we were one match point ahead of Op de Meir and in case of a draw would still lose the title. We saw in the line-ups in Bruges that Steven van Acker was not playing, so we thought: the match is sold. But the leader’s substitute, Jean Paul de Kraker, won his match, so there was tension from the start. We both won in the end, so we could celebrate the title with our fans.‘’
The Belgian league ended with Biljart Express as number 1 with 36 match points and 1.354 on average ahead of Op de Meir with 35 points and 1.289, Herstalien with 32 and 1.330, Mister 100 with 31 and 1.214 and T's Place with 26 and 1.220.
Kortrijk 2 and TBA Biljartpalace, who played against each other on the final day (win for TBA 6-2) are the relegators to the second division. As a result, the top level loses players such as Dirk Weeremans, Frank Martens, Frédéric Roelants and Stany Buyle, among others. Mister 100's second team was one of the champions in second division, including Raymond Ceulemans. It is not yet certain whether the ambassador of Belgian billiards will actually make a comeback in the top division. The team has to make a composition for next season and will anyway play with Marc Celen and Erwin Hens. Mister 100 team 2 became champions in the second division ahead of Mister 100 4 with 39 points. BC Zevenbergen also made the promotion to the highest division with Tom and Rudy Persyn among others. The champion finished 1 point ahead of Herstalien 2.
On the final day of the highest class, De Leug and Mister 100 played a draw 4-4. The best match was between Jeffrey Jorissen and Peter Ceulemans, who also met at the European Championships last weekend. Jorissen then won, this time the Dutchman was also stronger than his rival: Jorissen won 40-29 in 26. Jerry Hermans was the standout in that match with a win over Therese Klompenhouwer: 40-18 in 18, 2.222 average for the winner. Herstalien played a draw against De Ploeg (4-4), TBA won from Kortrijk 2 6-2 and Kortrijk 1 won vs T's Place 5-3.
Martin Spoormans, 5the title in Belgium with Biljart Express, tenth in his career
The final standings in the Belgian league:
- Biljart Express 36-1.354-16
- Op de Meir 35-1,289-17
- Herstalien 32-1,330-14
- Mister 100 31-1,214-12
- T's Place 26-1,122-16
- De Leug 20-1,094-15
- De Witte Molen 19-1,067-14
- Kortrijk 1 18-1,018-13
- Brugge 15-1,048-15
- De Ploeg 15-1,002-11
- Kortrijk 2 9-0.921-10
- TBA Billiardpalace 8-1,013-11