Biljart Express brings back tension in Belgium brought back the tension this week. Herstalien is still the leading team after 12 rounds, but three teams are in pursuit at two points down. That is the result of the Biljart Express victory over Herstalien 6-2 thanks partly to the match won by the new Belgian champion Eddy Merckx over Roland Forthomme: 40-27 in 19 innings. Merckx started with an 8 in that match, was 20-15 ahead in 10 innings and finished 5, 5, 3 and 3.
The win was further added to the scoreboard by Dave Christiani, who was the better of Pierre Soumagne 40-32 in 27 and Gerwin Valentijn who defeated Thomas Broux 40-29 in 28. Only Martin Spoormans was defeated by Dany Boutet by a two caroms difference: 40-38 in 32.
The margin on top was reduced in that first round after the winter break, because Op de Meir and Mister 100 also went to win in this round. Op de Meir was even superior against De Leug with an 8-0 score thanks to, among others, the two leaders: Jef Philipoom won against Jeffrey Jorissen 40-27 in 25, Barry van Beers against Davy van Havere 40-23 in 21 innings. Furthermore, the maximum score was achieved by Roland Uijtdewillegen against Andy de Bondt (40-30 in 21) and Eddy Leppens against Mik Durwael (40-18 in 29).
Mister 100 claimed the full win against Kon. Brugse 6-2 with a remarkable loss for Peter Ceulemans, who just completed an excellent Belgian championship despite a curious loss against Eddy Merckx. The Mister 100 leader did not have his best day against Bruges and lost to Steven van Acker 40-29 in 32. The other three team players shown with a win: Bart Ceulemans, Jerry Hermans and Kurt Ceulemans won against Leys, Saver and Blauwblomme.
Kortrijk 1 just kept Kortrijk 2 at a distance by 5-3, thanks to an excellent Ronny Brants, the number 2 of the Belgian championship. Brants defeated Frédéric Roelants in 20 innings. In the match T’s Place against TBA, a 5-3 score was also on the board: T’s Place won by victories of Peter De Backer over Dirk Weeremans (40-19 in 21), Joey de Kok over Yvan Stitschinsky (40-33 in 42) and a draw by Huub Wilkowski against Frank Martens.
Eddy Merckx was the better of Roland Forthomme and won with his team Biljart Express against the leading team Herstaco